BLUEMOMENT

RYA makes it absolutely clear that all Coastguard services that are currently delivered must continue at the same level and are improved.

It is quite evident that the consultation has provoked much emotion and even hostility; particularly from communities where Rescue Co-ordination Centres may be located close by.

However, it is equally apparent that the proposals are about how the co–ordination and management of search and rescue activity can be improved in the future in order to address the lack of interoperability between Rescue Co-ordination Centres, the inability to spread the work-load across the system and the fundamental lack of resilience caused by increased demands on the current inadequate structure.

All of these have implications for the safety of recreational boaters when at sea and the RYA has made it clear that there is a pressing need to address these weaknesses.

Overview of RYA response
In its response the RYA has made it absolutely clear that its principle concern is to ensure that all Coastguard services that are currently delivered, including search and rescue, provision of maritime safety information and VHF voice communication, continue at the same level and are improved.

The RYA’s response makes a number of critical points concerning the changing operational environment and additional pressures that must be fully considered if the quality of the services is to be maintained and improved.

We have highlighted the strengths in the way that the current service is provided including the provision of weather information and the watch on Ch16 together. In addition we have emphasised that there are a number of significant weaknesses such as gaps in VHF coverage and the lack of sophisticated equipment carried by most boaters that we believe must be addressed and resolved if the proposals are to be robust and effective.

The RYA also believes that it is vital that the new system is focused on outcomes and underpinned by flexible procedures that are sufficiently agile to deal with the increasing complexity and pressure of managing the UKs waters.

Of concern to the RYA was that the MCAs document does not make it clear that the risks to the project, including technological risks, have been adequately assessed and documented. If it has been done, or once it is done if it is not yet complete, then the RYA believes that the publication of the project risk assessment will be of crucial importance to the consultation process.

UK International GMDSS obligation
The RYA stressed that the Service is also an important part of the UK’s international GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress Safety System) obligation that not only includes the coordination of SAR operations with the minimum delay but also includes navigation advice, promulgation of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) including weather information, weather warnings and the provision of general communications.

Sub station operability
The proposals do not indicate whether the proposed sub stations, which it is proposed will operate in peak hours, will re-activated outside their normal operating hours in the event of a significant incident. Further the RYA is concerned that the document only refers to the 24/7 handling of emergency messages, not the entire spectrum of safety, urgency and distress activity. These omissions must be addressed.

Local knowledge
The RYA believes that if local knowledge is to be readily available then the proposals should specifically cover the matter of communications between the Maritime Operations Centres and the local Coastguard Rescue Teams. Furthermore such communications need to be compatible with those of other emergency services in order to ensure seamless coverage.

Voice communications
Whilst the use of new technologies is increasing within recreational boating they are not used across the board and therefore any new system must be reinforced by continued voice communications via VHF16 for safety, urgency and distress calling.

Weather forecasts
The RYA stressed that the VHF weather forecasting routine provides a valuable service for coastal mariners at sea. Whilst automation [Stuart as proposed?] might eventually simplify the process when additional frequencies can be dedicated to such a service, the current service must be maintained until there are viable alternatives, which is currently not the case.

On this point we go on to say that with assistance from the Met Office the RYA and MCA have invested a lot of time over the past six years improving both the timing and content of VHF weather information broadcasts and it would therefore be unreasonable and possibly irresponsible to terminate them as part of the modernisation without addressing the significant shortfalls in general communications.

VHF and NAVTEX Coverage
These include VHF and NAVTEX Coverage where it is well known that there are gaps in VHF and NAVTEX coverage around the coast of the UK, particularly Scotland. We see that the reorganisation of the Service provides an ideal opportunity not only to improve the management of the service, but to close the gaps in the communications coverage.

The consultation period has been extended for a further 6 weeks and will now close on 6 May 2011. To read the MCA Consultation document on the modernisation of the Coastguard go to the MCA website

Gardenshed wrote:There is definitely some benefit to integrating all the "blue light" services (police, ambulance, fire, coastguard) where some real benefits of scale should be possible. Unfortunately in the UK this usually results in a couple of layers of unnecessary bureaucrats, some target based reporting nonsense and the front line staff finishing up doing the same thing but with layers of supervisors looking over their shoulders and "managing" them.