Maritime and Coastguard Agency

From  Monday (30 March)   there are some changes for the foreseeable future to the way the BBC will broadcast   the  UK Marine Weather  Service  – including the Shipping Forecast –   owing  to the  impact  of  c oronavirus (COVID-19).  During the week, there will be three broadcasts ;  one at 0533, one at midday and o ne at 0048. All three will be on FM and LW. At the weekend, it will be 0533, 1800 and 0048, again on FM and LW.   The Met Office will continue to produce Shipping Forecast and Inshore Waters Forecast four times a day and Her Majesty’s C o astguard will  be broadcasting as normal via   NAVTEX and MF/VHF marine radio .     Strong  w ind and  g ale  w arnings will  sti ll be available as and when needed .   Andrew  Colenutt , Head of Hydrography and Meteorology at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said:  ‘These are challenging ti...

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is to allow drivers on ferry routes to stay in their vehicles in exceptional circumstances to protect frontline services and to keep freight moving. Operators will need to demonstrate that they have carried out rigorous risk assessments before the MCA gives its agreement. It means that as long as there are pre-agreed mitigation measures in place, freight drivers will be able to stay with their vehicles on vehicle decks of international and domestic roll-on/roll off ferries. The ultimate choice of how an operator protects the crew and passengers remains, currently, with the operator.  Domestic ferry operators will be encouraged to submit a risk assessment , which will allow them to mitigate the rules of Merchant Shipping Notice (MSN) 1823 – the safety code for passenger ships - to let passengers to remain in their vehicles on board ferries. Additionally, the MCA has agreed with its French counterpart – Affaire Maritime – guidance to c...

Salvors are continuing to bring personnel and resources to the scene in support of the ongoing response to the grounding of MV Kaami in the Minches, between the Isles of Skye and Lewis. A specialist salvage team of seven people, supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, are currently onboard, having begun work on the vessel yesterday (March 25). They have carried out a detailed damage assessment which is being used as part of the ongoing work to resolve the incident. It is believed that around 28 cubic metres of diesel has escaped from the ship. The Scottish Environmental Group is aware of this and are assessing the impact of the pollution as low and non-persistent. A temporary exclusion zone of 500 metres remains in place around the vessel to all but those boats involved in supporting the response. The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch is carrying out an investigation remotely with assistance from the salvors. A fixed-wing aircraft, provided by the MCA, has been ma...

People are still going to the coast and beach despite Government warnings to stay at home because of COVID-19. HM Coastguard is getting a number of calls reporting groups of people on beaches across the UK. Pete Mizen, assistant director for HM Coastguard said: “The rules are very simple and can be found on the Government website. Stay at home. The risk of spreading coronavirus is huge and while you might be okay, the person you give it to may not. And if you get into trouble and have to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, you’re then putting frontline emergency responders at risk of COVID-19 too. “At this time of the year the beaches aren’t lifeguarded which is a double risk to you and our emergency responders. Help us to help you. Stay at home.”

The Director of Maritime Safety and Standards at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency says that exceptional times need exceptional measures. Katy Ware, who is also the UK’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization says that the industry should be assured that the MCA will do all it can to help during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Survey and inspection activity of ships is currently suspended, however the MCA has put in place a number of measures to make sure that shipping of freight and other vital lifelines will continue. And it has offered guidance and advice to seafarers and shipowners at a time of uncertainty to help. Katy, who like most of the MCA other than frontline emergency response teams, is now working from home said: ‘We’re living in exceptionally challenging circumstances. None of us could’ve foreseen this and at the moment, we can’t see a definite end. Now, more than ever it becomes critical that we work with the industry and seafare...

The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Stornoway winched all of the eight-person crew to safety from a cargo vessel which had ran aground in adverse weather conditions in the early hours of Monday (23rd March). Despite strong winds and complete darkness, the helicopter was able to successfully evacuate all on-board. Portree RNLI lifeboat were also involved in the rescue. The vessel, which made contact with the Coastguard and reported taking on water, now remains on hard ground at Sgeir Graidach rock in the Minch in north-west Scotland - and is being monitored by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency's Emergency Towing Vessel, Ievoli Black. Watch the video of the helicopter airlifting one crew member from the vessel below:

We know how much everyone loves the coast. We do too. But while we can’t ask you to stay away, we’d really like to ask you to look at the latest COVID-19 advice and think about it before you go out. When you’re at the coast, we’re always on call in case things go wrong and we will always respond. Last weekend, we saw a rise in incident numbers and call-outs and we responded to each and everyone. But the more people who come to the coast, the more likely it is our teams will be called out and the more risk there is of exposing them not only to Coronavirus but placing our teams in danger. The UK’s coastline offers fresh air, scenery and escapism amid the ongoing and developing outbreak, but it is essential to follow government guidance at all times and practice safe social distancing, and – where possible, stay safe at home. As a frontline emergency service, it is our priority to keep you safe but that is much easier for us to do when people take less risks and enjoy themselve...

HM Coastguard in Western Isles, Skye and Lochaber are supporting a programme to train Coastguard Rescue Teams and Duty Officers as  Dementia Friends  – an Alzheimer’s Society initiative which encourages people to learn more about what it is like to live with the disease and turn that new understanding into action. Set-up by Murdo Macaulay, Coastal Operations Area Commander for the areas aforementioned and National Implementation Lead for the Lost and Missing Persons Search (L&MPS), Coastguard Rescue Teams have joined forces in recent weeks to promote Dementia Friends and interact with local people in the community. The teams often respond to a variety of incidents involving missing persons who are suffering with dementia – and have hugely benefited from taking part in the programme. So far,  Coastguard Rescue Teams have gathered together twice  and numerous more meet-ups are set to take place in the near future – though this is dependent on the current C...

Eight kayakers got into difficulty in Strangford Lough this morning and have been recovered to shore by lifeboat and helicopter. Belfast Coastguard was called at 10.35am by two kayakers who had managed to make it to an island in the Lough and reported that another six kayakers in their group were in the water after capsizing. HM Coastguard sent the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Prestwick and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Portaferry and Bangor and requested the launch of the Portaferry RNLI inshore lifeboat. The two kayakers who had made the call for help were located by the Coastguard helicopter on an island and were airlifted to shore and the RNLI Portaferry lifeboat recovered the other six people from Strangford Lough.  All casualties were received on shore by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and have not required hospital treatment. Notes to Editors:  General advice for kayakers HM Coastguard recommends that kayakers tell someone at home their passage ...

A Greek ship management company has been prosecuted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency after the tragic death of one of its employees. Sky Mare Navigation Company was today fined after a court heard how crew member Alfred Ismaili was crushed to death by a falling hatch cover during a lifting operation onboard general cargo vessel SMN Explorer on February 1 2018 in Alexandra Dock, King’s Lynn. The company pleaded guilty to charges of failing to comply with the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006. Chelmsford Magistrates Court heard this morning how Mr Ismaili died after he was crushed by a hatch cover that he was attempting to close. In the absence of an operating procedure for opening and closing the heavy hatch cover, Mr Ismaili had attempted to climb up the inside of the cover to try and access the equipment needed to secure it to a crane. The hatch cover fell and crushed Mr Ismaili, despite first a...

The Seafarer Health and Safety department at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) works to ensure the wellbeing of those who work at sea. Head of Seafarer Safety and Health Julie Carlton has worked for the MCA for 25 years and has been in this post for 11 years. She said: “ The team is responsible for legislation, guidance and providing advice to improve the heath, safety, wellbeing and working conditions of those who work at sea. “We’re concerned with human elements of shipping such as medical fitness of seafarers, medical care onboard vessels, working hours regulations, payment of wages, provisions available on board ships and safety at work regulations.” The legislation applies to UK flagged ships wherever they are in the world and ships which enter UK waters. The team also works with the maritime industry to make changes in behavior to improve safety and wellbeing without regulation through improving understanding. Julie said: “What I love most about...

Kate Hannett is the first female coastguard rescue officer on the Isle of Islay. Kate, who is a member of the Port Charlotte team, said: “Being in the team is something that I’m very proud of but for me it is here nor there that I am female. However, I have five young nieces on the island so perhaps I can be part of their generation, and others, seeing it as the norm for women to be in the coastguard. “We have great women working in the coastguard teams on our neighbouring islands, in our local RNLI, ambulance crew, fire service and police. Regardless of gender, it’s a combined effort across the island’s emergency services and I’m proud to work alongside great women and men, many of whom I grew up with, for the safety and wellbeing of our island community.” Since completing her training in December, Kate has been on three shouts – a search and rescue, a potential medical transfer and a pyrotechnic report. Kate, who works in both media communications and as a forager for a ...

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Counter Pollution and Salvage team is responsible for ensuring shipping ports across the country are following legislation to mitigate pollution. Jayne Ede is the counter pollution and salvage officer for the west working with a number of ports and harbours from Exeter to Silloth on the Scottish border. Ports have a responsibility for ensuring any pollution risks are dealt with swiftly and that staff are effectively trained to handle them. Jayne said: “My role is to liaise, train and exercise the ports to ensure they are suitably prepared to deal with any incidents and that together we are doing all we can to protect the environment.” “The David Attenborough effect has been huge in recent years and has led to a large number of people having an interest in pollution and wanting to personally do everything possible to look after the environment and to protect it for future generations. Their expectation is for companies to being doing...

At the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) women hold a variety of roles and make a real difference to maritime safety in the UK. Sea safety is not only the role of HM Coastguard; surveying teams around the United Kingdom regularly inspect vessels to ensure safety of life at sea and protect the environment. Sarah Lawlor joined the Cardiff team 11 months ago. Having previously worked in the cruise Sarah Lawlor ship industry for 10 years she sought a new adventure on dry land that mirrored the variety she was used to. Sarah said: “In this role I am not tied to a desk and everyday really is different.” Sarah worked as a deck officer working her way up to her Master Mariners Certificate of Competency – the highest grade of seafarer qualification. She was responsible for the safe navigation of the vessels and the safety and security of the ship’s operations in what is often seen as a male dominated industry. As a surveyor Sarah can find herself on a fishing vessel in P...