Go this e-mailed to me and have been asked to pass it around. Sorry that its a bit long, but they are a great bunch of people.
MRSC Humber
HM Coastguard
Limekiln Lane
BRIDLINGTON
YO15 2LX
Dear Diving Officer
This mailing is to introduce HM Coastguard to those divers who may be unfamiliar with the services we provide to the diving community; and to establish links to diving clubs in the area covered by the Humber Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre.
Please circulate to all your club members and display the notice on your notice board.
This information is important. We have airlifted divers to the recompression chamber on numerous occasions already this season and recovered several broken-down dive boats. An accident or breakdown can happen to any of us at any time. We should all be aware of how and when to alert the emergency services.
I have also included a copy of our Boat Safety Identification Scheme (CG66) form. The information on this form will be used only for search and rescue purposes. Photocopies of this form can be given to club members who have their own boats. Please fill it in and return it to me at Humber MRSC here in Bridlington.
If you require any further info or advice give us a call or send me an e-mail.
If you are contactable by e-mail please let me know your e-mail address then any future info can be sent by e-mail.
Thanks for your co-operation. Good diving.
Paul Chapman
Dear Diver,
Figures released by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) for incidents during 2002 indicate that many divers are not making HM Coastguard their first point of contact in the event of an emergency. This could be that divers are unfamiliar with the organisation of HM Coastguard and believe that we should only be contacted in life and death situations.
The purpose of this e-mail is to introduce Humber Coastguard to you and to encourage you to talk to us and make use of our services. We are very friendly and approachable. Honest!
HM Coastguard is part of the MCA.
Humber District covers the East Coast of England from Haile Sand Fort (Cleethorpes) northwards as far as the Scottish Border and approximately half way across the North Sea. It is part of MCA's Eastern Region.
Humber Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre is based in Bridlington and the operations room (radio call–sign 'Humber Coastguard') is manned 24 hours a day 365 days of the year.
Humber Coastguard co-ordinates Search and Rescue (SAR) activities within the District. To do this we are able to call on the services of -
29 Coastguard Rescue Teams
3 Volunteer Life-Brigades
13 RNLI All-Weather Lifeboats
20 RNLI Inshore Lifeboats
4 Private Inshore Lifeboats
1 Coastguard Boat
2 RAF SAR Flights (based at RAF Boulmer and RAF Leconfield)
We also work with
Police road, air and marine units
Fire Brigade land and marine units
Ambulance road and air units
Lifeguards, Beach Safety and Coastwatch teams.
MOD Bomb Disposal.
We can call on the services of naval and other vessels, which may be transiting through the district, as well as the resources of our flank stations – Forth Coastguard to the north and Yarmouth Coastguard to the south.
There are a large number of diving clubs in the District and many popular diving areas such as the Farne Islands and Bridlington Bay. Consequently, a lot of diving takes place in our patch. We are here to assist you when shore or boat diving.
We are able to
. Connect you by telephone, VHF radio or mobile phone to a diving doctor.
· Arrange evacuation to recompression facilities for diver and buddy.
· Search for missing divers.
· Recover disabled dive boats and their crews.
· Evacuate casualties to hospital.
· Take routine details of your planned dive.
· Give weather and tide information.
If you are planning to dive in Humber District then help us to help you should you get into trouble – it could happen. It does happen!
Register your boat with the Yacht and Boat Safety Identification Scheme (CG66). Register on-line at
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-hm...-hmcg-cg66.htm
or contact us and we will send you an application form.
When you go diving
· Shortly before departure, phone us (01262 672317). Tell us your intentions and get the latest weather information from us.
· On departure call “Humber Coastguard” on VHF channel 16. This also checks your VHF is working OK.
· On safe return ashore call “Humber Coastguard” on VHF channel 16 and let us know you are back.
If you follow the above actions then should you be reported overdue we will have a full description of your boat (CG66). We will know your point of departure and return, your intended dive sites, how many persons are on board and your estimated time of return. We will also know if you have called to say you are back ashore.
Having this information means that we know where to search and what we are looking for. This greatly reduces the time and resources required for search and rescue. It also improves the chances of a successful rescue.
If you have any problems while you are at sea – mechanical failure, missing diver, suspected DCS etc – call “Humber Coastguard” on VHF channel 16 IMMEDIATELY.
If you have any problems while shore diving, your shore–party should dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.
It takes time for lifeboats and helicopters to reach casualties. The sooner we know there is a problem the sooner we can help you. If it turns out to be a false alarm we can cancel the launch but any delay could cost someone’s life. Don’t spend half an hour searching for a missing diver before calling us. Call us immediately, minutes count and can never be got back.
To contact us write to
HM Coastguard,
HUMBER MRSC,
Limekiln Lane,
Bridlington,
YO15 2LX
Operations Room (24 hours)
Emergency 999 ask for the Coastguard
Routine 01262 672317
Fax 01262 606915
VHF Channel 16
MF 2182 kHz or 2226 kHz
DSC MMSI 002320007
If you would like to arrange a club visit to the ops room, or if you would like us to visit your diving club then contact me
Paul Chapman
Telephone 01262 672317 (Ops Room)
E-mail
paul.chapman@mcga.gov.uk
MCA web site
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/
Please circulate this e–mail to your club members. If you are not the point of contact for your club I would be grateful if you could let me know who is.
Hoping we all have plenty of safe, enjoyable dives this year.
Paul Chapman
DIVERS SAFETY INFORMATION
FROM
H M COASTGUARD
Maritime & Coastguard Agency stations
are manned 24 hours, 7 days a week
ALL YEAR ROUND.
Are you reading this and planning to dive?
We are here to assist YOU
for diving incidents, minor or major,
when shore or boat diving.
WE ARE ABLE TO:
Connect you by telephone, VHF radio or mobile phone to a diving doctor.
Arrange evacuation for divers and buddies.
Search for missing divers.
Take routine details of your planned dive.
Give weather and tide information.
HUMBER COASTGUARD
Emergency 999
VHF Channel 16
DSC MMSI No. 002320007
Routine Calls 01262 672317
IF IN DOUBT CALL US OUT