Coastguard Again

[johnwest]

In a few idle moments I have been monitoring channels 16 and 67. Oh dear oh dear ! I hope the training of the new staff progresses with some urgency.
A small passenger vessel called with a casualty and it seemed the coastguard was mainly interested in the mmsi no of the vessel rather than organising the evacuation.
Plus a small yacht aground on Ryde sands, on a falling tide, was told to maintain their position! She was aground she wasn't going anywhere until the flood tide started.
Not a good sign.

j

 

[iBlob]

There's no harm monitoring the marine frequencies but you really should keep your own counsel.

 

[bjl]

You can monitor those channels and have a go at the Coastguard as much as you like but you must preserve the secrecy of correspondence.

 

[chanelyacht]

In a few idle moments I have been monitoring channels 16 and 67. Oh dear oh dear ! I hope the training of the new staff progresses with some urgency.
A small passenger vessel called with a casualty and it seemed the coastguard was mainly interested in the mmsi no of the vessel rather than organising the evacuation.
Plus a small yacht aground on Ryde sands, on a falling tide, was told to maintain their position! She was aground she wasn't going anywhere until the flood tide started.
Not a good sign.

j

We did warn people...

God help us when the summer comes, or the winter series racing with the "proper" injuries.

 

[sailorman]

You can monitor those channels and have a go at the Coastguard as much as you like but you must preserve the secrecy of correspondence.

"REALLY"

 

[pmagowan]

"REALLY"

It's a legal thing.

 

[chanelyacht]

It's a legal thing.

Funnily enough, since the MOCkery started and people realised the "Future Coastguard" will be sh it, the MCA media office have started campaigning on that one again...

Don't think there's ever been a prosecution though, especially as MCA Enforcement have a current budget of the squareroot of f all.

 

[GrahamD]

I listened to a serious incident recently where there was clear risk of loss of life. I became very concerned about the hesitancy and seemingly a need to constantly consult a supervisor or a computer screen resulting in an over emphasis on unimportant issues and ultimately poor coordination. It did not instil confidence

 

[mlines]

Funnily enough, since the MOCkery started and people realised the "Future Coastguard" will be sh it, the MCA media office have started campaigning on that one again...

Don't think there's ever been a prosecution though, especially as MCA Enforcement have a current budget of the squareroot of f all.

Its probably an OFCOM responsibility not MCA to enforce telecommunications law, which is why the MCA can campaign on it as its someones elses "problem"

 

[[70521]]

Perhaps a few letters to MPs might get some action?

 

[chanelyacht]

Perhaps a few letters to MPs might get some action?

Doubt it.

The Transport Select Cttee held three enquiries, and were deliberately lied to by the MCA every time.

Sad thing is, the experience that was there is gone, and won't be coming back.

 

[prv]

I listened to a serious incident recently where there was clear risk of loss of life. I became very concerned about the hesitancy and seemingly a need to constantly consult a supervisor or a computer screen resulting in an over emphasis on unimportant issues and ultimately poor coordination. It did not instil confidence

Until now, the assumption has been that the Coastguard operator is in control and everyone else has tended to defer to them in the management of an incident. If they don't improve, it'll be interesting to see if and how this changes.

Pete

 

[sailorman]

It's a legal thing.

well fancy that !

 

[prv]

Perhaps a few letters to MPs might get some action?

It's hard to see what action to call for at this point.

Pete

 

[RobbieW]

It's hard to see what action to call for at this point.

Pete

For those who are members of the RYA, highlighting these incidents and consequent concerns to them. Keeping a log of incidents overhead will be more effective than anecdotal stories

 

[prv]

For those who are members of the RYA, highlighting these incidents and consequent concerns to them. Keeping a log of incidents overhead will be more effective than anecdotal stories

That's a reasonable answer to a different question

Certainly recording evidence of the problem is a worthwhile thing for us to do as individuals. But the question was, when writing to MPs, the RYA, or whoever, what is it that we actually want the MCA to do now? They can't put things back exactly as they were because the people (who are the key to it all) are no longer there. So what should they do?

Pete

 

[mainsail1]

If we let them, I am sure good old Coastwatch will take up the slack!

 

[RobbieW]

... So what should they do?

To a large extent thats their problem, as the RYA are our representatives to govt etc what we need to do is raise a safety concern with them. It may be that one of the few remedies is to cease the rollout of the closures until more rigorous training of new staff has been completed, taking up the slack with any older centres still in operation (if any, I'm not up to date on a lot of this).

 

[prv]

To a large extent thats their problem

It's our problem if we want anything to change. Campaigning positively for something specific to be done is vastly more effective than simply pointing out a mistake that's already been made. In the latter case, the most you're likely to get is an admission that yes, it was. And that doesn't actually help anybody.

Pete

 

[PhillM]

That's a reasonable answer to a different question

Certainly recording evidence of the problem is a worthwhile thing for us to do as individuals. But the question was, when writing to MPs, the RYA, or whoever, what is it that we actually want the MCA to do now? They can't put things back exactly as they were because the people (who are the key to it all) are no longer there. So what should they do?

Pete

Same as they always do when they other cock-up a re-org.

You go back to the good people you let go and bring them in as external contractors / consultants at a hugely inflated daily rate. You get the experience back for as long as you need it and they don't mind coming back into a different location / working pattern because they are getting a fantastic pay rate.