| History of the Coastguards |
| Today's Officers of
Her Majesty's Coastguard are benefiting from nearly two centuries of
maritime experience of their predecessors. Many changes have taken place
over the years and Coastguard co-ordination centres of the 21st century
have been transformed by new technology. HM Coastguard's role is now
clearly focused on search and rescue at sea and the prevention of
maritime incidents through education and the promotion of safety. |
| 21st Century Search & Rescue |
| 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 MCA exists
to promote high standards of safety at sea, to minimise loss of life
amongst seafarers and coastal users, to protect the environment by
minimising pollution from ships and to respond to maritime emergencies
24 hours a day. This means the MCA must maintain an adequate civil
maritime search and rescue co-ordination service through HM Coastguard.
This clear definition of the role of HM Coastguard within the MCA has
enabled the MCA to focus on introducing the best available technology,
which means that the UK Coastguard is a world model for search and
rescue co-ordination. Whether you
are a sailboarder too exhausted to reach the shore or a walker that
slips from the scenic cliff path, cruising on a luxury super liner that
looses rudder control or crew aboard a container ship battered by freak
waves, fallen sick on a racing yacht or trapped on a burning oil rig, HM
Coastguard can ensure that the most able rescuers are sent to your aid.
Computerised data gives them access to all the resources and by touching
a visual display screen they can summon lifeboats, helicopters, towing
vessels or cliff rescuers. It is no matter that you are a hundred miles
along the coast from their watchroom or far over the horizon. Satellite
communications enable Coastguards to hear the distress calls of
seafarers and coastal users who less than a hundred years ago would have
hoped in vain that their feeble flares or cries might be seen or heard.
Rescue was not quick; if a Coastguard spotted a vessel ashore he often
had to send messengers on foot to alert the lifeboat or LSA crew. It is no
surprise that HM Coastguard is leading initiatives for a National Search
and Rescue Framework. For the first time this will cover incidents
arising at sea, on land or in the air, by promoting partnership between
all forms of emergency service through the most advanced communications.
HM
Coastguard no longer thinks only of rescue. Despite handling thousands
of incidents every year, improved efficiency has freed officers to take
part in safety campaigns. Each year these target the most common causes
of accidents at sea, and their message is carried to recreational clubs
and into schools.
|