Red Flags - Sikorsky S92
Blue Flags - AW189
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| Map: Ordnance Survey / RouteBuddy Software |
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Helicopter Locations
Following on from the previous post here are the locations for the Helicopters - roughly speaking.
Red Flags - Sikorsky S92
Blue Flags - AW189
Red Flags - Sikorsky S92
Blue Flags - AW189
New SAR Helicopter Contract - Bristow
A private company, Bristow, has won the contract to operate Search and Rescue Helicopters in the UK.
Whilst the RAF and RNAS provide Search And Rescue (SAR) capability at eight bases across the UK, the four HMCoastguard Helicopter bases have for some time been operated through a private civilian contract , utilising ex- RAF and RNAS pilots.
The 22 helicopters will be built in the UK and will operate from 10 bases overseen by HMCoastguard.
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| Sikorsky S92 in the snow |
Ten Sikorsky S92s will be based, two per site, at:
- Stornaway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
- Sumburgh, Shetland, Scotland
- Newquay, Cornwall,
- Caernarfon, North Wales,
- Humberside.
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| AW139 in Sunny Swanage |
Ten, AugustaWestland 189's AW189 (the newer version of the AW139 above) will be based, two per site, at:
- Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire
- Prestwick Airport, Scotland
- Inverness, Scotland
- St Athan, South Wales
- Manston, Kent
There are two 'spares' - one of each for training.
The only real difference most people in the UK will see is the actual livery and type of helicopters used.
....just found this... ooooh wizzy techno-helicopters.
Monday, 25 March 2013
Search
This afternoon Dorset Police requested assistance in searching for an overdue walker on the South West Coast path. The male had failed to reach his destination last night and there was concern for his welfare.
Coastguards from Swanage and St Albans joined Police Officers in searching from Durlston Head to St Albans Head. Rescue 106 from Portland joined the search in near freezing temperatures which continued for over two hours.
Search teams were stood down at 18.30 and the male has since been confirmed safe and well out of the area.
Coastguards from Swanage and St Albans joined Police Officers in searching from Durlston Head to St Albans Head. Rescue 106 from Portland joined the search in near freezing temperatures which continued for over two hours.
Search teams were stood down at 18.30 and the male has since been confirmed safe and well out of the area.
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Poole Team play in our mud
The chaps from Poole popped over yesterday to have a look at our mud and Landslip.
The last few days weather has again changed things down on the cliff with more washed down. The beach has also changed shape due to the easterly winds we have had for a few weeks.
The Poole team are a full mud rescue team and in theory would be tasked to assist us with anyone trapped until the Agency has reviewed our status in this area.
So we decided to have a little practice, wearing a dry suit and special boots, our man from Poole had a walk around the slip to show us how it all works. Yes it's still very soft and if we get more rain the risk of getting trapped increases.
Please stay out of the mud and certainly do not carry out your own tests on the mud, leave that one to us.
Saturday, 23 March 2013
What a plank
Just as we had finished today's patrol, we were tasked to search for a large piece of wood reported in the water. The member of the public was concerned it would be a hazard to shipping so Portland Coastguard wanted it checked out.
After a short search the offending item was located in the water just by the pier, in fact it looked like it had come from the pier.
Due to the conditions and safety concerns we have been unable to recover the 15ft beam but hopefully it will come ashore later and be returned to the pier.
Of course if we had a boat hook, we could of used that to help recover it
After a short search the offending item was located in the water just by the pier, in fact it looked like it had come from the pier.
Due to the conditions and safety concerns we have been unable to recover the 15ft beam but hopefully it will come ashore later and be returned to the pier.
Of course if we had a boat hook, we could of used that to help recover it
Friday, 22 March 2013
Dirty Thirty - A Clue?
I have no idea what the 'Dirty Thirty' training session might involve next week, but I may have found some clues at the station. We have done some research on the latest trailer laws, and fortunately all of our team are licensed to tow ours. But can they manoeuvre it?
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Flood Warning
The Environment Agency has issued the following Flood Alert this lunchtime, Thursday 21 March:
Link to EA site
Water levels in the Purbeck Rivers and streams around Corfe Castle and Swanage areas are rising and are forecast to continue to rise in response to current rainfall. Up to 40 mm of rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours which will raise water levels further.
13:31 on 21 Mar 2013Link to EA site
Ferry Good News
Good to see Brittany Ferries' Barfleur is back in action on the Poole - Cherbourg route this week. The service ran regularly from Poole until March 2010 when it was withdrawn. It was then reinstated in February 2011 but only lasted the season before being withdrawn again.
This latest re-introduction sees a daily service for the forseeable future, although its first two sailings earlier this week were cancelled as a result of recent bad weather which had delayed the preparation, certification and approval processes.
According the the BBC report, "The Barfleur had been leased to another firm, while Condor Ferries had been providing summer crossings between Poole and Cherbourg. A Brittany Ferries spokesman said the end of both contracts prompted the return of the Barfleur, which he said would run year round depending on how it does this summer".
Disclaimer: Other ferry services are available, but they don't all link Dorset to the Continent. I mean, you could try Red Funnel from Southampton, but you wouldn't get further than the Isle of Wight, and the Brownsea Island ferries don't even get out of Poole Harbour!
This latest re-introduction sees a daily service for the forseeable future, although its first two sailings earlier this week were cancelled as a result of recent bad weather which had delayed the preparation, certification and approval processes.
According the the BBC report, "The Barfleur had been leased to another firm, while Condor Ferries had been providing summer crossings between Poole and Cherbourg. A Brittany Ferries spokesman said the end of both contracts prompted the return of the Barfleur, which he said would run year round depending on how it does this summer".
Disclaimer: Other ferry services are available, but they don't all link Dorset to the Continent. I mean, you could try Red Funnel from Southampton, but you wouldn't get further than the Isle of Wight, and the Brownsea Island ferries don't even get out of Poole Harbour!
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Famous Sailors
Robin Knox Johnston
Chay Blythe
Dee Caffari
Ellen McArthur
They all have something that we as a Coastguard Station don't have.
Ben Ainslie however doesn't have one ('cause he sails dinghies)
A boathook!
Yes, Brian...
(i)threw
(ii) accidentally dropped
(iii) conducted a float test
on the Station's Boathook in the sea last year...he thought we'd forgotten but were still banging on about it. Meanwhile our boathook is either in someone's shed in Swanage or as we prefer to think .... floating in warm, calm water off the bahamas.
Chay Blythe
Dee Caffari
Ellen McArthur
They all have something that we as a Coastguard Station don't have.
Ben Ainslie however doesn't have one ('cause he sails dinghies)
A boathook!
Yes, Brian...
(iii) conducted a float test
on the Station's Boathook in the sea last year...he thought we'd forgotten but were still banging on about it. Meanwhile our boathook is either in someone's shed in Swanage or as we prefer to think .... floating in warm, calm water off the bahamas.
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Pier Pressure
Sadly, Swanage Pier was damaged in last week's rough weather, as reported on the local news sites:
Although a temporary brace has been put in place to prevent further damage, the Pier remains closed for the immediate time being.
With Easter just around the corner, this is a setback for all those who use the Pier - including anglers, divers, pleasure boaters, strollers and incoming excursions.
The Pier, originally built in 1860 won the Pier of the Year award in 2012, and I'm sure the Swanage PierTrust would welcome any donations towards its upkeep and ongoing repairs in a bid to regain the coveted title.
Although a temporary brace has been put in place to prevent further damage, the Pier remains closed for the immediate time being.
With Easter just around the corner, this is a setback for all those who use the Pier - including anglers, divers, pleasure boaters, strollers and incoming excursions.
The Pier, originally built in 1860 won the Pier of the Year award in 2012, and I'm sure the Swanage PierTrust would welcome any donations towards its upkeep and ongoing repairs in a bid to regain the coveted title.
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