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WHICH SERVICE PLEASE

Here we will try to explain via an example of what happens if you ever call 999 in the UK to report an incident to H.M.Coastguard. Lets us make up a typical call and follow it though from start to finish. You are walking along and you see an empty new looking inflatable dinghy on some rocks.
You are concerned some thing may be wrong and decide to phone 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Do not assume someone else may of done so if they have it will not matter your call will only help to confirm what has happened. Your call will be put though to one of the Maritime Rescue co-ordination Centers MRCC or a sub center MRSC (in our area it will be Swansea Coastguard who will then page us). Tell them all you know most important to us is that if you are requested to stay by the phone that you do so. A Local Aux Coastguard will arrive and may ask more questions which may be very important or ask you in this case to show the team where the dingy is.
The team will be called via a paging system and they will then respond from home, work etc so they may be a few minutes.

In a case of this type a team will be sent to search while other coastguards will try to find out any more information. This may be asking people on the sea front had they seen any one with the dingy if so the magic questions WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN. Also the team will be on the look out for any other signs this could be things like some clothing left on the beach etc. The Lifeboat may be launched to help with a off shore search this may be a 3 man fast inshore inflatable D-Class boat or one of the off shore lifeboats. A helicopter may be called in also to help with the search this could be a R.A.F. Seaking or a Police or a coastguard helicopter this will depend on your area and availability and local lifeguards will also be informed. A call may be put out to other vessels at sea on channel 16.

The police will also be informed and may ask you some questions it may all sound a bit daunting but all this is vital the more information the better. Remember someone's life being saved starts with the most impotent person and that is YOU.
If someone was last seen say a few hours ago with the dingy at sea, Mrcc will then plot a search area for the teams to look this is done by computer and will allow for tidal drift as well as any effects of wind. All co-ordination of the rescue services will be by the coastguard extra coastguard staff can also be called in from our flank stations for example with us that would be Mumbles or Porthcawl.

With our example and this happens a lot the dinghy’s owner was found safe and well having a bag of chips watching all the teams searching. Before finding out it was his dingy that had blown out to sea off the beach with no one on it earlier in the day only he never though to tell the coastguard.
BUT there could have been someone in the sea that had fallen off so your call was very important so if in doubt get us out. The team will then return to their stations for a debriefing, store all the equipment and do the paper work. What really happens is after the debriefing half go home and leave me to do all the paper work ahh the life of a coastguard.