Author Topic: Rescue Services  (Read 95744 times)

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Offline Ian

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue
« Reply #255 on: July 22, 2020, 03:22:28 pm »
In the UK we have more than our fair share of quicksand. From wikwi: "To move within the quicksand, a person or object must apply sufficient pressure on the compacted sand to re-introduce enough water to liquefy it. The forces required to do this are quite large: to remove a foot from quicksand at a speed of 0.01 m/s would require the same amount of force as needed to lift a car."
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue / RNLI / Coastguard
« Reply #256 on: July 23, 2020, 10:41:36 am »
We have just returned back to base after completing our 9th incident in the last 7 days.
We were tasked at 10:49 to investigate possible broken down jetskis off reynes jetty at Llanddulas.

We kept observations on the pair from Rainbow Bridge whilst the Lifeboat made their way to the pair.
In the second time in two days, the vessel 'Swn y Mor' offered their assistance as they were in the area. They were able to confirm that the Jetski and RIB were not in difficulty.

Because of some concerns over their intentions, Rhyl Lifeboat were asked to continue in order to gather more information.

Must have seemed a good idea at the time........  :-\       a bit more on yesterdays report.

A jet ski towing a dinghy while two people tried to catch fish sparked an emergency alert.

RNLI volunteers at Rhyl and the Llandudno Coastguard were alerted just before 11am on Wednesday after concerns were raised that two jet skis had broken down off the coast of Llanddulas.

When the lifeboat arrived at the scene, it was discovered that a jet ski was towing a small unpowered dinghy
One person was on each vessel, and both were fishing.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rnli-alerted-over-fears-jet-18642547



Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue / RNLI / Coastguard
« Reply #257 on: July 24, 2020, 11:29:15 am »
RNLI Llandudno Lifeboat
2h ·
Llandudno Lifeboat goes to the aid of a stricken vessel off the Great Orme

Llandudno’s all-weather lifeboat William F Yates was called out by Holyhead Coastguard and launched at 1.58 pm yesterday to go to the assistance of a twenty two foot motor vessel which had suffered engine failure and was drifting off the Great Orme.

In deteriorating weather conditions The William F Yates with her volunteer crew soon reached the stricken craft and after securing a towline took it up-channel into the River Conwy to place the boat safely in Deganwy Marina, its three occupants unharmed.

The lifeboat then returned to the Llandudno Lifeboat Station for it’s beach recovery at 4.10 pm.

A spokesperson from the RNLI explained “this was a good operation; we were able to successfully carry out our rescue whilst also safely adhering to all the procedures and precautions we have put in place during the Covid 19 situation.”

Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue / RNLI / Coastguard .....serious incident Conwy
« Reply #258 on: July 28, 2020, 11:36:01 am »
Llandudno Coastguard
1h ·
We were tasked at 18:30 yesterday to reports of a vessel collision at the Beacons Jetty in Conwy which had resulted in an injured crew member.

Arrivng at the scene, there was a single injured crew member who had been thrown off the vessel when it collided with the beacons jetty, crushing him between the boat and pontoon.

Casualty Care was immediately started whilst awaiting the arrival of an ambulance.

Conwy Lifeboat and RNLI Llandudno Lifeboat were also launched to assist.

Rescue 936 was requested due to the severity of the injury. We identified a potential landing site a short distance away at Conwy Golf Club and, after asessing its suitability, we were able to establish it as a landing site.

The casualty was taken to aintree hospital in Liverpool to receive further treatment.

The vessel was made secure by the lifeboat crews and we were no longer required so were stood down and returned to station

Offline Ian

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue
« Reply #259 on: July 28, 2020, 11:57:38 am »
Do we have any details on the boat? That's can be a seriously nasty injury.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue / RNLI / Coastguard
« Reply #260 on: July 28, 2020, 01:03:00 pm »
Do we have any details on the boat? That's can be a seriously nasty injury.

This is the DP story, I am assuming, the picture they are showing is relevant to the article, it also mention a recent engine fire.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/man-crushed-boat-flown-hospital-18674486

Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue / RNLI / Coastguard
« Reply #261 on: July 31, 2020, 10:12:46 am »
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Today at 08:35 ·

Unmanned aircraft support search and rescue for HM Coastguard
It's officially called 'safety overwatch' - it translates as 'keeping you and yours safe'. We're ready for the day - please make sure you are too.
Unmanned aircraft will be flown as safety overwatch in support of search and rescue missions for HM Coastguard for the first time.
The unmanned aircraft will be supporting search and rescue response in north Wales both in maritime and in the mountains.
Teams on land, aircraft, crewed and unmanned, overhead, boats on the water - whatever it takes to keep you safe   
video  https://www.facebook.com/MCA/videos/781603065986237/



DP article and video         
Unmanned aircraft will be flown to watch over search and rescue missions for the first time this weekend.

They will be supporting HM Coastguard by attending live incidents in the sea and the mountains as part of an operational trial to provide the best response.

Operated by Bristow who run the HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter Service, the unmanned aerial vehicles will launch from Caernarfon supporting safety patrols across beaches from Conwy Bay to Llandudno and across Snowdonia.

HM Coastguard’s helicopters provide support for inland search and rescue which includes the mountain regions, as well in maritime environment and the unmanned aircraft will work alongside those.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/unmanned-search-rescue-aircraft-flown-18688127



Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue
« Reply #262 on: August 01, 2020, 03:46:44 pm »
More on the new drone story.........ref DP

The new Coastguard drone has been seen flying above Gwynedd and Conwy this afternoon.

It took off from its base at Caernarfon Airport at about 1.45pm and flew north east above the Menai Strait and over the two bridges linking Anglesey and the Gwynedd mainland before crossing Llandudno Bay reaching an altitude of between 2,500 and 2,700 feet.

It circled the Great Orme and flew along the promenade at Llandudno before turning around and retracing its steps back to its base landing after a flight of about an hour.

A North Wales Live reader said: "I could hear it but it was very difficult to spot. It's quite small and its white colour against the clouds made it hard to see."


Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue / RNLI / Coastguard
« Reply #263 on: August 04, 2020, 03:51:39 pm »
Update on the above story............... This seems a bit heavy..........

An experienced sailor and former mountain rescuer who was flown to hospital after getting crushed between a yacht and a pontoon said it "never would have happened" if the RNLI had towed the vessel into a marina after an engine fire the day before.

Ian Proud was sailing his brother's boat, 'Starfish,' from Conwy Marina to Portavadie on Loch Fyne, Scotland when the engine burst into flames three miles into their journey.

The 54-year-old and his three-strong crew called the coastguard, who asked if they needed a lifeboat or if they could sail the boat onto the Beacons Pontoon - just outside the marina -  themselves.

Ian was confident in his abilities to bring the vessel alongside the jetty himself, and members of Llandudno coastguard met them at the site ready to take in their lines.

Mr Proud told North Wales Live: "The coastguard, who were very helpful, contacted the lifeboat and asked if they could move us into the marina as the pontoon is rather exposed and is more suited to commercial vessels than a yacht.

"The lifeboat refused to do so on the basis that we were no longer in peril."
The RNLI -  confirmed they would not tow a vessel unless it was deemed to be in danger.

An RNLI spokesperson said: "The RNLI has strict guidelines on the towing of vessels and will tow a vessel if it is deemed to be in danger, as such this did not come under the RNLI’s towing policy.

"As a charity, the RNLI has to ensure that it makes the best possible use of its supporters’ donations.

"In instances such as this, the tow would need to be carried out by a commercial tug."

Full story   https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/sailor-crushed-yacht-accident-says-18708664

Offline Ian

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue
« Reply #264 on: August 04, 2020, 06:54:41 pm »
A fine use of lateral thinking and flexibility on the part of RNLI.  I had to laugh at this:

"As a charity, the RNLI has to ensure that it makes the best possible use of its supporters’ donations."

Now, that's interesting. Last year they received almost £200m in legacies and donations. They have almost half a billion in assets and paid over £95m in wages and salaries last year.  They have thirteen employees earning above £100,000 per annum.

That's where it becomes interesting. "The Executive Team (ET) including the chief executive are regarded as the Charity’s key management personnel under FRS102. Aggregate employee benefits of the ET totalled £1,509,106. Aggregate employee benefits comprise salaries, severance pay, company cars, pension costs and employer NI contributions."

Somehow, I doubt many of them can be found helping on deck in bad weather during a rescue.  And it goes on:

"In preparing the separate financial statements of the charity, advantage has been taken of the following disclosure exemptions available in FRS 102:
• No cash flow statement has been presented for the Parent Charity.
• Disclosures in respect of the Parent Charity's financial instruments have not been presented, as equivalent disclosures have been provided in respect of the group as a whole.
No disclosure has been given for the aggregate remuneration of the key management personnel of the parent company as their remuneration is included in the totals for the Group as a whole."

My experience with national charities has been that this approach is adopted when the charity prefers to muddy the waters a bit with respect as to who is paid what.

But when a charity is earning almost £200m from the public, then one might assume the public would see towing a powerless boat into a protected marina as a very justifiable use of public funds.  Wonder if they'd feel that way about the high salaries and company cars being enjoyed by the top execs?
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue / RNLI / Coastguard
« Reply #265 on: August 05, 2020, 11:07:02 am »
We might not like it, but sadly charities have to be run as successful businesses, whether it is our local or national charities.





Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue / RNLI / Coastguard
« Reply #266 on: August 11, 2020, 02:58:19 pm »
Talking recently on the Forum about inflatables being dangerous, this story shows a bit of common sense pays off.


A boy has thanked a lifeboat crew who rescued him after he was swept out to sea on a paddleboard.

The RNLI said the teenager was rescued off Aberdaron, Gwynedd, on Saturday afternoon and flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor by coastguard helicopter.

It said he had been in serious condition after swallowing water and was showing signs of hypothermia.

The next day he was discharged from hospital and was able to visit the crew with his father to say thank you.

The RNLI said it took about 20 minutes to find the boy after he left his board in an attempt to swim ashore.
It said he had been carrying his mobile phone in a waterproof pouch and was able to talk to police in an attempt to describe his exact location.

It said the rescue had been hampered by a significant swell, an outgoing tide, offshore wind and poor visibility.
RNLI helm Fritz Williams said: "This callout shows just how crucial a lifejacket is and having a means of calling for help.

"A lifejacket can buy you valuable time in a time-critical situation whilst you wait for help to arrive.
"Staying with your vessel/flotation device can help you to keep warm out of the water and also make you easier to find."   ref BBC


Offline Hugo

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue
« Reply #267 on: August 11, 2020, 04:32:31 pm »
Some good advice there Steve and anyone going on a boat,  jet ski or surf board should wear a life jacket, it's just common sense.
I had a friend who regularly used to go in a boat fishing and when he was on holiday abroad he's go on a Pedalo out to sea and never wore a life jacket.     That's his choice some would say but the plonker couldn't swim a stroke!       &shake&

Offline Ian

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue
« Reply #268 on: August 11, 2020, 05:57:48 pm »
We did a great deal of sailing off the Scottish islands on the West coast and I ensured that everyone–including me–wore a life jacket when we were in poor conditions or on deck at all. It can happen so fast: from gently breezing along to finding one of the party has slipped and gone over.  Being dumped in cold water can also stop your heart, so without a life jacket you're finished.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline SteveH

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Re: Air / Sea Rescue / RNLI / Coastguard / The New National Coastwatch
« Reply #269 on: August 13, 2020, 06:12:31 pm »
A new National Coastwatch station is to become operational, based on the Gt.Orme

This new lookout station is operational, as of 10 August 2019. It is housed in one of the NCI’s trailer mounted mobile stations.
NCI Great Orme welcomes anyone interested in the work of the NCI and in joining our Station to become a qualified Watchkeeper.  If you are interested and want to know more then email Tim, our Station Secretary at greatorme.secretary@nci.org.uk
 
Visitors are most welcome at the lookout although, when an incident is ongoing, this may not always be convenient and the duty watchkeeper may ask visitors to call back later. Please bear in mind that this is a small lookout, so we cannot have more than two visitors inside at a time.

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/17824843.great-orme-lookout-bird-39-s-eye-view-save-lives/
       

The Great Orme Coastwatch NCI’s trailer mounted mobile station, has been moved to the West Shore car park, not sure for how long, but will certainly be kept busy in their new position.       NCI link https://www.nci.org.uk/stations/great-orme