Her Majesty’s Coastguard – Wikipedia

Her Majesty’s Coastguard ( HMCG ) is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency creditworthy, through the Secretary of State for Transport to Parliament, for the trigger and co-ordination of all maritime search and rescue ( SAR ) within the UK Maritime Search and Rescue Region. This includes the mobilization, constitution and tax of adequate resources to respond to persons either in distress at sea, or to persons at risk of injury or death on the cliffs or shoreline of the United Kingdom. It is besides responsible for land based search and rescue helicopter operations from 2015. [ 2 ] The headman administrator of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is Brian Johnson. Operational control of the service is the duty of the Director of HM Coastguard, Claire Hughes. [ 3 ]

Her Majesty ‘s Coastguard is not a military force nor law enforcement agency, with coastal defense being the province of the Royal Navy, law enforcement being the province of the local territorial patrol force and maritime border control being the responsibility of Border Force. however, the organization is a uniformed service .

history [edit ]

HM Coastguard was established in 1822. [ 4 ] In 1809 the Preventive Water Guard was established, which may be regarded as the immediate ancestor of HM Coastguard. Its primary aim was to prevent smuggle, but it was besides creditworthy for giving aid to shipwrecks. For this reason, each Water Guard station was issued with Manby ‘s Mortar ( the mortar fired a shoot with a line attached from the shore to the wrecked ship and was used for many years ). In 1821 a committee of inquiry recommended that responsibility for the Preventive Water Guard should be transferred from HM Treasury to the Board of Customs. The Board of Custom and the Board of Excise each had their own long-established preventive forces : shore-based Riding Officers and sea-going tax income Cruisers. The committee recommended the consolidation of these respective relate services. The Treasury agreed, and in a Minute dated 15 January 1822 directed that they be placed under the authority of the Board of Customs and named the Coast Guard. The new Coast Guard inherited a number of shore stations and watch houses from its harbinger bodies a well as respective coastal vessels, and these provided bases for its operations over the follow years. In 1829 the first Coast Guard instructions were published, dealing chiefly with discipline and the prevention of smuggling ; they besides stipulated that when a wreck took position the Coast Guard was responsible for taking all possible legal action to save lives, taking charge of the vessel and protecting property. [ 5 ] In 1831, the Coast Guard took over duties from the Coast Blockade for the Suppression of Smuggling ( which had been run by the Admiralty from a string of Martello Towers on the Kent and Sussex coast ) ; this finally gave it authority over the whole of the UK coastline. In the 1850s, with smuggling on the decline, oversight of the Coast Guard was transferred from the Board of Customs to the Admiralty. [ 6 ] In the decades that followed, the Coast Guard ( or Coastguard, as it came to be called ) began to function more like an auxiliary Naval service, a recruitment grind for future naval personnel. Responsibilities for tax income protection were retained, but hands-on rescue services began to be undertaken more and more by Volunteer Life Brigades and by the lifeboats of the RNLI, with the Coast Guard acting in a digest role. By the depart of the twentieth century, there was a growing smell of dissatisfaction with the service expressed both by the Board of Customs ( concerned for gross protection ) and by the Board of Trade ( responsible for safety at sea ). In the wake up of the First World War, moves were made to address these deficiencies. In 1923 the Coastguard was re-established as a coastal condom and rescue service, oversee by the Board of Trade. [ 7 ] Its skills in maritime communication ( acquired during the Admiralty years, when Coastguard officers often manned signal stations ) were recognized, with provision being made for the consumption of new communication technologies for safety at sea. There was besides a renewed decision to recruit, educate and align unpaid rescue personnel with the establishment in 1931 of a coastal Life-saving Corps, late renamed the Coastguard Auxiliary Service ( see Coastguard Rescue Service, below ). For the respite of the twentieth hundred, the Coastguard continued to operate chiefly out of local anesthetic prop up stations ( practice of ships had declined after 1923 ). In 1931 in England there were 193 stations and 339 accessory stations ; in 1974 there were silent 127 stations ( permanently manned ) and 245 accessory stations. From the 1960s onwards, though, priorities were changing from maintaining coastal lookouts to provision of coordinated search and rescue services. Old watch houses, with their on-site accommodation and annex boathouses, gave way to newfangled technology-based Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres, far fewer in number. [ 8 ] Efficiency drives in the 1990s made Her Majesty ‘s Coastguard a government executive agency, then in 1998 the Marine Safety Agency and the Coastguard Agency were joined to become the Maritime and Coastguard Agency ( MCA ) .

The Coastguard Rescue Service [edit ]

HM Coastguard tennessean on Skye, Scotland The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of 352 teams located near the coast in stations around the UK, with the most coastal rescue stations in the UK. The teams are made up of Coastguard Rescue Officers ( CROs ) who are volunteers trained to carry out rescues and provide aid to those in distress on the UK ‘s coastline. There are approximately 3500 CROs and they carry out rope rescue, mud rescue, water rescue and search duties in all weathers and at all times. The teams are paged by the National Maritime Operations Centre ( NMOC ) or Coastguard Operations Centres ( CGOC ) and answer to emergencies. They besides assist other authorities such as the Police, Fire and Ambulance with their specialist expertness. The Coastguard Rescue Teams ( CRT ) will besides provide safety advice to those they rescue and members of the public. After recovering any fatal accident the CRTs will provide the aid needed then will transfer them to a place of guard. The teams will besides provide support to the lifeboats and SAR helicopters per task by the Operations Centres .

Search and rescue [edit ]

A Search and Rescue vehicle as seen in Brancaster Staithe The Coastguard Rescue teams carry out searches of the shoreline in their patch which, depending on the team ‘s location, could be urban or outside cliff. The searches could be for vessels, wreckage, people who have abandoned ship, or missing persons. This is referred to as Lost and Missing Persons Search ( L & MPS ) .

Water safety and rescue [edit ]

due to the nature of the employment carried out by CROs they are trained to be safe when in or near the water. They are trained to be able to carry out rescues in highly harsh conditions and the team will work together to recover the casualty from risk while ensuring that each team extremity is condom. The training the CRT have will depend on the location of the CRT. All teams are trained in farming search methods, water rescue and First Aid .

Mud rescue [edit ]

Mud rescue is described as the most physically demanding type of rescue there is. Mud rescue technicians walk on the mud using equipment to prevent them getting stuck, and recover casualties. In most cases these are people who have become excessively tired to continue walking on the mud while taking a shortcut. The CRTs besides have rescue equipment to extract people profoundly stuck in mire, including inflatable rescue walkways, mud lances, and specialist footwear inspired by ducks ‘ feet .

rope rescue [edit ]

Rope rescue methods are to recover casualties who have fallen or are stuck on cliffs or unmanageable to reach areas, be they rural or urban. The team function in concert to lower a rope rescue technician who will assess the casualty, provide first base aid treatment if necessary and then recover the casualty to base hit, before transferring the casualty to the future level of care as required. [ 9 ]

Role and responsibilities [edit ]

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency ( MCA ) is an executive agency creditworthy throughout Britain for implementing the Government ‘s maritime guard policy. That includes lead up and coordinate search and rescue at sea or on the coast through Her Majesty ‘s Coastguard, checking that ships meet british and international condom rules and preventing coastal befoulment. typical emergencies to which the Coastguard is summoned include :

• Persons in difficulties in the water;
• Persons in difficulties on the coastline;
• Pleasure craft with problems;
• Medical emergencies on vessels, installations or offshore islands;
• Incidents involving oil installations;
• Persons threatening or attempting suicide on the coast or bridges over estuaries;
• Missing persons on the coast;
• Merchant vessels with problems;
• Evacuating injured or ill persons at sea;
• Groundings;
• Collisions at sea;
• Reports of suspected Ordnance.

India Juliet over HM Coastguard helicopter over Dorset pre-2008 Ships in distress or the public reporting an accident should make a Mayday call on MF radio, nautical VHF radio receiver duct 16, or by dialling 999 or 112 on a telephone. The Coastguard CGOCs endlessly monitor all the maritime distress frequencies ( including the international VHF distress signal frequency 156.8 MHz i.e. channel 16 ) and have access to satellite based monitoring systems. The Coastguard CGOC then co-ordinates the hand brake response. This normally involves requesting the launch of a local RNLI lifeboat ( the RNLI being an freelancer constitution ), launching an independent lifeboat, deploying a local anesthetic Coastguard Rescue Team, or a search and Rescue helicopter, making broadcasts and requesting aid from vessels in the area. Depending on the circumstances of each incident, the Coastguard CGOC may besides request for early emergency services to be deployed to the incidental or to meet early units returning from the incidental, for case in the case of a medical emergency. A list of common ‘Declared Assets ‘ is below :

• HM Coastguard’s own CRO (Coastguard Rescue Officers) Initial Response and Coastguard Rescue Teams;
• Inshore lifeboats, all-weather lifeboats and inshore rescue hovercraft operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• Other nominated inshore rescue services
• Search and rescue helicopters under contract to the MCA
• Ministry of Defence Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN)
• Emergency towing vessels (ETV) – powerful tugs contracted to the MCA
• Nominated Fire Service teams for cliff and mud rescue as well as firefighting and chemical incident response for vessels at sea
• Nominated beach lifeguard units

Declared Assets are facilities that have given a declaration to the Coastguard of a certain level of handiness or prepare. other assets that may be tasked to assist with any incidental include ; Mountain Rescue, Military Police, The Fire and Rescue Service and volunteer lifeguards. In addition, diverse ‘Memorandums of Understanding ‘ exist between the Coastguard and early hand brake services to establish precedence when working in each other ‘s areas. For exemplar, patrol officers needing to carry out a search of the shoreline. The Coastguard has ten rescue helicopters based around the United Kingdom ( at Stornoway Airport, Sumburgh Airport, Prestwick, Inverness Airport, Caernarfon Airport, Humberside Airport, St Athan, Lydd, Newquay Airport, Lee-on-Solent ) .

Operations [edit ]

A 2012 Peugeot 308 estate at Whitehaven search and Rescue fomite bilious, as seen in Brancaster Staithe When HM Coastguard receive a distress call by a 999 or 112 earphone call, by radio or any other means at the Coastguard Operations Centre ( CGOC ), a Maritime or Senior Maritime Operations Officer will use their train to question the caller to determine the location. The Maritime Operations Officer will normally be able to confirm the location given by the caller if the call is on the 999 system as the equipment in the Operations room will display where it has come from. The use of the equipment is identical important because when people are in a distress situation it is easy for them to make mistakes as they may be frightened, anxious and/or unsealed. Coastguard Rescue Teams are paged via an SMS based arrangement detailing the emergency incident, or via a VHF beeper, although these are being phased out. The Maritime Operations Officer will use the chastise chart or map for the area and they are trained to ask questions that will help the caller name where they are. The coastguard SMC ( SAR Mission Co-ordinator ) in charge of the watch will then decide which rescue resources will be used to conduct the SAR operation. The Maritime Operations Officer who takes the predict may keep talking to the caller, while another can be passing information to the choose rescue resources. These assets will depend on the situation, but could be one of the 365 Coastguard Rescue Teams ( CRT ) around the UK slide made up of 3,500 Coastguard Rescue Officers, RNLI or freelancer lifeboats, Search and Rescue Helicopters or a vessel or aircraft known to be in the vicinity or who responds to a circulate on radio receiver made by the CGOC .
The CGOC will call out and send the rescue units according to the nature and badness of the incidental. The CGOC will then co-ordinate the SAR operation using the Coastguard Rescue Teams, lifeboats and helicopters or other vessels or aircraft, who carry out the physical rescue. Coastguard Rescue Teams have an Officer in Charge who is creditworthy for the action of that team or unit. If the caller is, for example, stuck in mud, the CRT Officer in Charge ( OIC ) will coordinate which of the team goes onto the mud to carry out the rescue. If it is person stick on a cliff the OIC will coordinate who is lowered over the cliff. All this is done while keeping the CGOC updated of their actions, and possibly being supported by lifeboats or a rescue helicopter. Each rescue resource is able to relay information about any casualty to each other and to the CGOC who retains overall coordination. The coxswain of a lifeboats and the SAR helicopter navigate would be in command of that rescue asset, whilst being coordinated by the CGOC. The rescue resources work together with the CGOC as the coordinating assurance to carry out SAR response. Once the persons in risk are rescued the person is then given the aid they need and then transferred to a stead of condom. [ 9 ]

ceremonial [edit ]

HM Coastguard besides parade at local Remembrance Parades and selected officers parade at the annual Remembrance Sunday parade at the Cenotaph in London. [ 11 ]

Locations [edit ]

HM Coastguard coordinate activities from one Joint Rescue Coordination Centre ( JRCC ), nine Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres ( MRCCs ) and one Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre ( MRSC ) .
All centres operate 24 hours a day. In addition Coastguard Rescue Teams are based locally at over 300 locations around the UK. [ 12 ]

holocene changes [edit ]

Her Majesty ‘s Coastguard place at Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland The modernization of HM Coastguard was completed on the 31 December 2015. This has seen a significant reduction in operation centres ( then called MRCCs ). The follow Centres have had functional capability transferred to newly named Coastguard Operations Centres ( CGOCs ) with supervision from the NMOC : [ 13 ]

• Clyde (closed, area transferred to Stornoway and Belfast)
• Forth (closed, area transferred to Aberdeen)
• Brixham (closed, area transferred to Falmouth and NMOC)
• Portland (closed September 2014, area transferred to NMOC)
• Solent (closed September 2014, area transferred to NMOC)
• Great Yarmouth (closed, area transferred to Humber)
• Liverpool (closed, area transferred to Holyhead)
• Swansea (closed, area transferred to Milford Haven)
• Thames (closed, area transferred to Dover)

american samoa well as its own operations as described above the NMOC has mathematical process oversight across the rest of the national network at the remaining Centres. In accession the small London coastguard center, which is annexed to the Port of London Authority headquarters, will maintain its oversight of activeness on the River Thames .

aircraft [edit ]

Fixed wing Operated by 2Excel aviation

• 3 Beechcraft King Air B200 – pollution patrol, surveillance, search and rescue
• 2 Piper PA-31 Navajo – pollution patrol, surveillance, search and rescue

Operated by RVL Group
Helicopters ( operated by Bristow under contract )

• 10 Sikorsky S-92 – search and rescue
• 10 Leonardo AW189 – search and rescue

Under a 10-year £1.6 billion shrink starting in 2015, Bristow Helicopters assumed province for search and rescue operations within the United Kingdom on behalf of HM Coastguard. Under the contract, Sikorsky S-92 and Leonardo AW189 [ 10 ] helicopters operate from 10 locations around the british Isles. Ten S-92s are based, two per locate, at Stornoway, Sumburgh, Humberside, Newquay and Caernarfon. Ten AW189s operate, two per site, from Prestwick airport, Inverness, Lydd, Lee-on-the-Solent and St Athan. Two aircraft are kept in reserve. [ 15 ] All bases are operational 24 hours a sidereal day. half of the modern fleet was built in Yeovil, Somerset. The Maritime & Coastguard Agency are launching a affectionate for their second generation UK search and rescue aviation program ( UKSAR2G ), [ 16 ] which is one of several tenders for exchangeable services. [ 17 ]

Communications [edit ]

A variety show of communication platforms are used depending on the individual asset and site. Communication involving Coastguard Rescue Teams, inshore lifeboats ( operated by the RNLI ), early nominated inshore rescue teams and SAR air assets ( both MOD and MCA ) typically take place over VHF marine radio. communication between normal vessels and HM Coastguard/Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres can take place over VHF radio, MF radio receiver and telephone ( Satellite, Landline and Mobile ) .

rank structure [edit ]

current rank structure ( full Time Coastguard and Volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service ) [edit ]

prince Charles is the Honorary Commodore of HMCG, and wears a uniform with the ranks insignia of Chief Coastguard plus an extra bar. [ 1 ] [ 18 ]

rate structure during WW2 [edit ]

HM Coastguard came under the Admiralty in 1940. [ 19 ]

1. ^ With but after .
2. ^ After eight years in the grade .

Former rank and file social organization [edit ]

• Chief Coastguard
• Chief Boatman (Chf Btman / Chief Bn / Chief Boatn)
• Chief Officer (Chf Officer)
• Commissioned Boatman (Comd Bn / Comd Btman)
• Boatman (Boatn)
• Provisional Boatman (Provs B’man)
• Permanent Extraman (Permanent Extraman)
• Temporary Extraman (Tempo Y Exta)

uniform [edit ]

As a uniform service, but with Coastal responsibilities and nautical traditions, HMCG ‘s uniform appearance is exchangeable to the Royal Navy, the erstwhile HM Customs and Excise and HM Revenue and Customs. There are three types of uniforms :

1. Formal
2. Blues (daily duties)
3. Personal Protective Uniform (PPE) uniform

courtly uniform [edit ]

Males

• white-topped peaked cap with HMCG capbadge
• white shirt and black tie
• dark blue Reefer jacket with two rows of buttons
• dark blue trousers
• dark polished shoes
• black gloves

Females

• white-topped bowler cap with HMCG capbdage
• white shirt and black tie
• dark blue Reefer jacket with two rows of buttons
• dark blue trousers or skirt with dark tights
• dark polished shoes
• black gloves.

Medal ribbons are worn on the impart breast. [ 21 ] Rank ( if any ) is worn on both cuffs. “ HM Coastguard ” shoulder titles are worn on each shoulder of the tunic. For public duties ( e.g. the annual Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph in London ), a greatcoat is worn. Black ( everyday/formal ) ) or white ( courtly only ) gloves may be worn. [ 22 ] Some officers may carry Naval style swords for formal parades. Undress Akin to the RN No. 3 trim, everyday uniform is alike to the above, except the tunic is replaced with a ‘wooly-pully ‘ jumper. Males

• white-topped peaked cap with HMCG capbdage
• white shirt and black tie
• dark blue NATO style jumper
• dark blue trousers
• dark polished shoes

Females

• white-topped bowler cap with HMCG capbdage
• white shirt and black tie
• dark blue NATO style jumper
• dark blue trousers
• dark polished shoes.

Rank slides are worn on epaulettes, along with HMCG identifiers. Medal ribbons may be worn on the shirt Name tag may besides be worn. In summer months, a brusque sleeved, open-necked shirt may be worn alternatively of the affiliation and jumper .
Akin to RN No. 4 dress, for more outdoor work, HMCG officers and CROs wear :

• White-topped peaked cap with HMCG capbadge
• Blue shirt with pockets
• Dark blue ‘wooly-pully’jumper
• Blue cargo trousers
• Black boots.

personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) rescue consistent [edit ]

HM Coastguard rescue officeholder during a discipline exercise For coastal rescue uniforms, CROs wear the keep up :

• Overalls
• Safety boots
• Helmet + Helmet headlight
• Safety glasses
• Safety goggles
• Safety gloves
• High visibility wet weather gear
• A high visibility buff (a neck-worn protector)
• Micro fleece
• ADS t-shirt
• Technical trousers
• Socks (upon request)
• Mobile phone or pager
• Personal radio.

exterior items are appropriately marked to identify them as rescue workers .

See besides [edit ]

References [edit ]