H.M. Coastguard
It's surprising how history can change the perception of an organisation but that
must surely be the case of the Coastguard. Over one and a half centuries ago the Coastguard officer was not a popular
man in Cornwall, a situation brought about by his meddling in the popular and profitable occupation of smuggling.
If there was a time that the image of the service started to change it was around 1829 when what was then the infant
Coastguard, albeit under a different name, first received the instructions "When a wreck takes place ......
every individual is to use his utmost exertion to save the lives of the persons on board". In 1856 the Coast
Guard Service Act came into being and this laid down the duties as defence of coasts, more ready manning of HM
ships and protection of the revenue.
Gradually the customs revenue aspect faded and assisting vessels in danger, taking charge of wrecks, operating
life-saving equipment and participating in lifeboat rescues were the more usual role of the service.
The role of the coastguard in more ready manning of HM Ships had tragic consequences when in September 1914 fourteen
hundred Coastguards lost their lives in naval actions and many more were to perish. The service was returned to
shore duties. These duties included watching for saboteurs, spies, the disposal of beached land mines and warning
of enemy attacks. The use of communications became vital and Coastguards developed into expert signalers.
The Second World War saw the need for more manpower resulting in the formation of the Auxiliary Coastguard. The
role of the service at that time was to maintain a constant watch of the coast a task for which they were armed.
The role of rescue was as ever important with the hazards of war creating an extra dimension in the rescue of ditched
air crews.
As technology affects all our lives so it did the Coastguard. Radio, radar and communications in general have culminated
in the Coastguards modern linchpin role in search and rescue co-ordination. 24 hours a day Coastguard stations
around the coast monitor the international maritime frequencies and respond to '999' emergency telephone calls.
Their area of coverage includes the 10,500 miles of UK coastline and extends 1,000 miles into the Atlantic, a total
of 1.25 million square miles. Cornwall has some 300 miles of the UK coastline making it the biggest region covered,
it also has a strategic position in terms of shipping and tourism and these factors make the county the Coastguards
'customer' in maritime terms.
When a distress message is received at a Coastguard station they will instantly respond, formulating a search and
rescue plan and mobilising resources. It may involve co-ordinating one of the 400 plus Coastguard Response Teams,
scrambling a Search and Rescue helicopter, calling out a lifeboat or other resources.
If there is an example of intimacy of association between two organisations there can be no finer example than
the Coastguard and the R.N.L.I. Their role is based on a common history and the personnel of the two organisations
whose knowledge of the shores, love of the sea and dedication have forged an association which is an example to
the world. The newcomers to this life saving team are the Search and Rescue helicopter and aircraft crews, they
may be new in terms of historical association but their dedication and skill follow the standards laid down by
their two older associates.
Search & Rescue.
Few people need to be told of the functions of the search and rescue helicopters, we hear about them often enough
on the news, read about them in the papers. Their courage and skill is renowned. We might take for granted the
huge skills they evince and overlook the training necessary to achieve that level of quality. Depending on where
we live we might assume that they are from one single branch of the services, we might when we think about it actually
not know as much as we thought we did.
There are eleven search and rescue helicopter flights around Britain. Six RAF, two Royal Navy and three HM Coastguard
flights. These assets all come under the control of the RAF Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC) at
Kinloss in the North of Scotland. Any aviation incident, any incident requiring SAR every hour of the day, every
day of the year is handled by the ARCC. From the mountains of Scotland to the coasts of Cornwall there is always
a team of people working away to ensure that should the call for help come it will be answered.
A 999 call to the Coastguard where Search and Rescue is needed will lead to a call to the ARCC controllers, their
assistants, Air Traffic Controllers and the men and women backing them up will all be working to organise rescue
efforts. On the helicopter bases there will be pilots rear crews and ground crews. Much less well known than the
aircrews are the men and women in overalls, the engineers, without whose dedicated ministrations to often temperamental
helicopters nothing, rotary or fix winged, would get into the air to carry out a rescue.
Here in Cornwall our main SAR base is RNAS Culdrose with RAF Chivenor in Devon as an equal partner in operational
cover. RAF St. Mawgan provides air crew training for Britain's helicopter crews and is home to the United States/UK
Maritime Facility. The county has further involvement with the RAF at St. Mawgan through the auxiliary units of
3 Maritime Headquarters Unit and Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment No 2625 (County of Cornwall) Squadron whose
volunteers are drawn from the local community.
While the helicopter crews are not involved in 'incidents' they are training always one, sometimes two, sorties
a day. During these sorties they will practice the skills required to find casualties quickly, to get them out
of dangerous situations and to administer medical assistance while en-route to a hospital. Winchmen are trained
to near paramedic standard and the Sea Kings carry a wide range of emergency kit. If it's a Navy aircraft the winchman
will be a trained diver. Pilots and rear crew all have specialist responsibilities and they ensure they know how
to cope at any time and under any pressure.
Practice does make perfect but with an average of six incidents daily throughout Britain there is no shortage of
real scenarios and these incidents can be relied on to test the skills of the pilots, winch operators and winchmen
to the limits. The two busiest bases in Britain are RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and RNAS Culdrose here in Cornwall.
Scotland has the biggest mountains and we the biggest coastline in Britain, both areas are popular with tourists
and are strategic points for shipping.
If the incident is offshore the chances are there will be a Nimrod from RAF Lossiemouth involved, these big agile
jets offer excellent search and communications facilities, can drop life saving equipment to survivors and provide
top cover for the SAR helicopters in bad weather or on long range tasks.
Five George Medals have been awarded to RAF SAR crews one posthumously, the Navy crews have an equal balance of
awards, these medals are awarded for conspicuous gallantry. Having observed first hand a rescue some years ago
and stood in fear for and awe of the rescue personnel I wonder what extremes of weather conditions and other difficulties
make the difference between conspicuous gallantry and just doing the job.
So if you look up and see a yellow or a red and grey helicopter or clattering across the sky and it has 'Rescue'
written on the side think of the crew, wonder where they are going, what situation will they be facing. Think also
of the people behind them, the co-ordinators, the ground crews, the network of skills which sustain and direct
the crew up there.
Pollution
The Marine Pollution Control Unit (MCPU) of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is a vital part of Britain's fight
against pollution and those who cause it. Their role is complex and we need not go into it here except as far as
it might affect us in terms of doing something about it. What we should be aware is discharge of waste from ships,
yachts and harbour/port installations. At sea this need not be the obvious discharge of oil and similarly offensive
matter but the more mundane items which on land we would send to the rubbish tip.
Pleasure boat users, yacht crews and anyone who is likely to observe any discharge of oil or other pollutant into
the sea from a vessel should make a note of the vessel involved, note the time and position of the incident and
report it to H.M. Coastguard.
If you are swimming, or enjoying any other water sport and you are affected by pollutants in the form of discharges
from the land into the sea contact Surfers Against Sewage which is an environmental pressure group.
