Her Majesty's Coastguard
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Hmcoast-standard.PNGHer Majesty's Coastguard is the agency of the government of the United Kingdom concerned with co-ordinating rescue at sea.
Ships in distress or the public reporting an accident should make a Mayday call on MF radio, marine VHF radio channel 16, or by dialling 999 or 112 on a telephone. The Coastguard continuously monitors all the maritime distress frequencies (including the international VHF distress frequency 121.5 MHz) and has access to Satellite based monitoring systems.
To provide assistance to persons in danger the Coastguard may call on the RNLI or their own land-based rescue personnel or rescue helicopters to take part.
The Coastguard has seven rescue helicopters based around the United Kingdom (at Stornoway Airport, Sumburgh Airport, Lee-on-Solent, Portland). The Coastguard also has use of other Air-Sea rescue helicopters provided by the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and the Irish Air Corps.
It also co-ordinates the treatment of casualties by calling the ambulance service, hospitals and recompression chambers. Various organisations around the UK such as Surf Life Saving Clubs can also be declared as Coastguard facilities and called upon in emergencies.
The Coastguard started life in 1809 in an anti-smuggling role, as the "Preventive Water Guard". It was manned by former Royal Navy sailors. It also took on its life saving duties, which was a bigger problem in those days of sail, reliance on good weather for safe journeys and much larger fishing fleets than at present.
The Coastguard is organised into three Coastguard Search and Rescue Regions (SRR).
HRH the Prince of Wales is Commodore of HM Coastguard.
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