The Maritime
& Coastguard Agency starts a 12 week consultation on
Search and Rescue provision in the southern part of the South West
peninsula today.
The consultation considers the nature of the maritime-related
public safety risks around the Southern part of the South West,
and the adequacy of the range of rescue services available to deal
with them if the additional MCA boats at Hope Cove and Tamar are
no longer available, and, if a risk remains, how best that risk
can be managed.
Her Majesty’s Coastguard is responsible throughout the UK for
the co-ordination of maritime search and rescue operations. That
service is available 24-hours-a-day, 365 days a year. Coastguard
Officers draw on a range of rescue assets to provide the most
appropriate response to individual situations.
These assets include helicopters, RNLI and independent
lifeboats, other ships in the vicinity of an incident, and the
volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service, members of which are
specifically trained in search, mud and cliff rescue techniques.
To meet the changing needs of our society and in particular
the diverse needs of beach and marine leisure users the Maritime
and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reviews Search and Rescue requirements
on a regular basis.
The Agency is arranging two local public meetings hosted by
officials to allow local people with concerns to make representations.
Jim McWilliams, Head of Search and Rescue at the MCA said
"Safety for all on the beach, cliff or at sea
remains our top priority.
"Currently our general purpose boats do not meet
approved safety standards and either have been withdrawn from
operation or placed under restricted operations in the interests
of their volunteer crews and the public. We recognise we have a
duty of care to those in the Coastguard Rescue Service.
"We will be using this period of consultation to
listen to the views of our search and rescue partners and also to
the views of local people and organisations with an interest."
Notes to Editors
• For the purposes of this consultation the southern part of
the South West Peninsula is defined as being from the River Dart
Devon, to Looe Cornwall, encompassing the coast of the South Hams,
Plymouth and Caradon District Council areas.
• The locality starts on the west bank of the River Dart,
including the cliffs and beaches westwards as far as Looe,
Cornwall. To the east the area is primarily rural with a tourist
population during the summer months. The city of Plymouth is
incorporated in the locality and to the west the area is
designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which attracts
many visitors throughout the year. The South West Coastal Path is
accessible along the entire coastline.
• From 2004 to 2007 there were 251 incidents within the
southern part of the South West Peninsula area, 39% involving
beach activity, 36% involving vessels near the coast, 3% involving
cliff rescue, 6% missing person searches and 16% defined as other
which includes animal rescue.
• The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise
awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities.
Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the
sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and
career opportunities available to young people within the UK
growing maritime sector. www.seavisionuk.org
Contacts:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office
Phone: 023 8032 9401
NDS.MCGA@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Mark Clark.
Phone: 023 8032 9414
Mobile: 07711 002678
mark.clark@mcga.gov.uk