Recent Channel Crossing Rescue

[nonitoo]

On the news see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8253797.stm

At the bottom the CG say,

" Peter Legg, senior watch manager for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: "At least one of the vessels had a portable VHF marine band radio on board, but unfortunately did not use it to call the coastguard and did not respond to the urgency broadcast we made."

He also urged sailors to inform the coastguard of travel plans before setting out and to monitor distress and calling frequencies."

I always thought that the CG66 scheme meant that the CG only wanted to be informed by your contact if you were overdue and discouraged direct contact with the CG unless a problem occurs.

Tom

 

[RIN]

I phoned Portland Coastguard a couple of years back to ask whether I should be informing them of passages we were about to make and the reply was that they would note it but would not do anything with it. i.e. our shore contact would have to call and say we had not checked in.

Interestingly, we did hear a boat informing the coastguard that they were making a passage from Poole to Swanage a few weeks ago. "Swansea? " said the CG "No Swanage in a 40ft motorboat" was the reply

 

[Andrew38]

My experience has been that most Coastguard stations will note your details (Dover, if busy, can be reluctant) and request you call on arrival but make it clear that they will not initiate any action. However it does mean that they can identify you whilst you're in transit, know your fuel state, POB, alternates etc. and if you are CG66 registered.