Press Notice No: 173-12
Monday, December 17, 2012
Posted 17:25 GMT

Clyde Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) will close on 18 December 2012.

There will be no reduction in front line rescue resources, which remain unchanged by the modernisation of HM Coastguard. The availability of Coastguard Rescue Teams, lifeboats, rescue helicopters and other rescue facilities in the area will be wholly unaffected.

In 2011 the Government announced the new structure for the nationally networked Coastguard Service which will become fully operational in early 2015. When Clyde MRCC closes, Stornoway and Belfast MRCCs assume full responsibility for the west coast of Scotland.

Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said:

Safety is our top priority and I am confident that HM Coastguard will maintain the same high quality search and rescue service as they always have done.

By 2015, HM Coastguards new network will be operational with a national Maritime Operations Centre at its core. We will deliver a more integrated search and rescue coordination service for the UK, taking full advantage of modern communications technology and enabling any centre to support others across the network during busy periods, thus sharing the work load.

Contact arrangements for HM Coastguard in the Clyde area from 18 December onwards:

Emergency Calls:

There is no change to the telephone number members of the public should use to report a maritime or coastal emergency. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard and the 999 operator will transfer the call to the appropriate Coastguard Rescue Coordination Centre.

Contacting the Coastguard directly by phone:

Callers who previously contacted Clyde MRCC can contact Stornoway MRCC direct on 01851 702013 or Belfast MRCC on 02891 463933. Clyde MRCC operations room phone number 01475 729988 will be routed to Belfast MRCC.

Contacting the Coastguard by VHF and VHF DSC:

The VHF and MF coverage provided by the coastguard remains unchanged and radio calls to the coastguard will be dealt with by Stornoway Coastguard or Belfast Coastguard depending on the callers location. Mariners are encouraged to save the VHF DSC MMSI number for their nearest coastguard shore station into their DSC unit. The MMSI number for Clyde Coastguard will be diverted to another MRCC.

Maritime Safety Information:

Maritime Safety Information including weather, gale warnings and navigational warnings will continue to be broadcast on the same schedule and frequencies as previously published. For information on these broadcasts, sailors can visit www.dft.gov.uk/mca and go to Weather in the Leisure and Seaside section.

Time Expired Pyrotechnics:

Leisure sailors who need to dispose of time expired pyrotechnics can phone any MRCC for advice on their closest drop off point.

ENDS

A You Tube video of Sir Alan Massey talking about the modernisation of HM Coastguard can be found here: http://youtu.be/Kb3vIp7W6X8

Posted By: Joanne Rawlings

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401