Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Contract with Bristow Helicopters Ltd extended by Maritime and Coastguard Agency The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has extended the contract for its search and rescue helicopter service which is currently operated by Bristow Helicopters Ltd on behalf of Her Majesty’s Coastguard; Bristow has been given the extension which will run until 31 December 2026, covering off the period that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency needs to procure its new search and rescue contract. Her Majesty’s Coastguard - the search and rescue service of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency – will continue to have its helicopter service delivered in the same way. Copyright: Harbour Media In the meantime, the MCA will work towards a framework for procuring a new replacement service known as UKSAR2G (UK Search and Rescue Second Generation) which will include helicopters as well as other innovative technology. Claire Hughes, director of HM Coastguard said: “This is a really exciting time for us as we work...

Consultation being launched on Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020.     Consultation is about to start on proposed amendments to regulations which would allow certain UK operators to use other legislation and potentially save them money.   The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is about to start consultation on Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020.   The changes are mostly cosmetic, however, one main change within the amendments means passenger ships under 24 metres on domestic voyages will be removed from the scope of the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/2687).   These vessel operators will then need to apply suitable alternative legislation such as the Small Seagoing Passenger Ships code (SSPS code) or revert to suitable Class III – VI (A) regul...

  #Mayflower400 🚢 Life at sea is safer than ever.   Departments across the Maritime and Coastguard Agency work hard to prevent loss of life on the coast and at sea. We produce legislation and guidance on maritime matters, provide certification to seafarers, carry out inspections and take action against those putting lives at risk at sea.  And HM Coastguard is always ready to rescue those in need at the coast or at sea.    But it was a different story 400 years ago when the Mayflower set sail on her pioneering voyage. The ship left Plymouth on September 16 th 1620 with up to 30 crew and 102 passengers onboard. Conditions were treacherous and it took 66 days to cross the Atlantic – a grueling couple of months for those onboard in conditions so bad that sails often couldn’t be used, so the ship simply drifted. Rough ships nearly shipwrecked the Mayflower as it neared the end of its journey. Four centuries after the ship set sail, Mayflower 400 UK is co...

Photo: XOCEAN   It’s an exciting time in the world of autonomous shipping, with a number of ground-breaking projects underway. The Mayflower Autonomous Ship will attempt to recreate the original voyage of the Mayflower across the Atlantic Ocean 400 years ago. Trials will begin within the next few weeks, before the historic journey which is planned for April 2021.   Brett Phaneuf, Managing Director of MSUBS Ltd which is constructing the vessel, said: “The Mayflower Autonomous Ship is pushing the technology boundaries forward by crafting a fully autonomous, AI-captained ship that is capable of safely navigating with no human input. “The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has been critical in moving the program forward and providing a flexible framework to get to sea and safely test this state-of-the-art technology and in so doing helps to keep the UK as the world leader in maritime autonomy.” SEA-KIT’s remotely-operated uncrewed surface vessel (USV) ‘Maxlimer’ recently...

  The UK Ship Register has released a new look Red Ensign alongside its complete online registration system. The upgrade is part of the continued modernisation of its services to ship owners and operators worldwide and bolsters its international offer. From this week customers will be invited to use the digital UKSR portal which offers self-serve capability for registering a new vessel and renewing registration. Owners will also be able to provisionally check a vessels name and request transcripts online.  The launch follows months of development and testing, throughout which customers were consulted and helped to shape the tool, which will add real value to their operations. In the long term it also reduces the amount of administration and speeds up all processing for owners with ships registered on the UK Flag. Users will be able to upload associated documents all to one place, as well as make payments for services online. It is available for all parts of the registe...

More technology which could drive the next generation of search and rescue for Her Majesty’s Coastguard is being tested. The MCA is leading work with the Civil Aviation Authority on how remotely piloted aircraft technology can be used in the demanding environment of search and rescue. HM Coastguard is the search and rescue service of the MCA, which continues its drive to look to the future of SAR in the UK. The MCA began its own evaluation back in May 2018 with a joint challenge with the RNLI to the aviation industry and has since been laying the foundation stones for its future use in potentially saving lives as part of rescue operations. Now more test flights are being carried out for the first two weeks of September using the Elbit Systems Hermes 900 as part of a program of events in West Wales. In partnership the MCA and Elbit Systems UK are exploring how the use of remotely piloted aircraft could support the work of HM Coastguard. This is in addition to ongoing evaluations being c...

  *UPDATED: 4.09.2020* HM Coastguard was made aware at 5.28pm yesterday (September 3) of an incident in which a paddle steamer collided with Brodick Pier on the Isle of Arran. A coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick and two Helimed were sent, along with Arran coastguard rescue team. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland were at the scene. 213 passengers and 26 crew were onboard at the time of the collision. 24 people reported injuries and were treated on scene, at the hospital on Arran, or transported by helicopter to hospital on the mainland.   Along with partner agencies we worked to ensure everyone was taken safely from the vessel, and those who did not require medical treatment were taken to Ardrossan by ferry. All emergency services had left the scene at 4am today (September 4) The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has been informed. 

An independent review of the risks to shipping within the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has been published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.     The report was initiated from a recommendation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch to assess the risk to and from shipping in the Dover Strait, following their report into a shipping incident in November 2016.  While that incident was localised, the scope of the recommendation was expanded to include the entire EEZ in order to provide the MCA with a broad comprehension of risk within its waters.  Integral to the report’s development was a series of consultation events with key stakeholders across the UK which took place last summer.      The report is being used as part of an ongoing assessment for the future provision of Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs), whose role is to intercept ships which have become disabled before they ground or collide with other ship traffic.  The ETV w...