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Port Talbot Coastguard History

HISTORY

I INTRODUCTION Sea Rescue, rescue of people from danger at sea. People have used the oceans for centuries, but seafaring has always brought an element of danger. As late as 1760, when the British warship HMS Ramillies dragged its anchors during a gale off Bolt Tail, resulting in the loss of 700 of the 720 on board, people could do nothing to aid the victims of the shipwreck.

II DEVELOPMENT OF SEA RESCUE Early experiments with boats specially designed for sea rescue were conducted in the 18th century. A prize for a suitable design was offered after a shipwreck in 1789 by a sea rescue organization which was one of a group of bodies which later became the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), set up in 1824. Lifesaving organizations were set up in other countries later in the 19th century. The idea of sea rescue caught the public imagination in 1838 when Grace Darling, the daughter of a lighthouse keeper, rescued nine people from the wreck of the Forfarshire, using a small rowing boat. Combatants in World War II developed elaborate sea rescue organizations, primarily to save the lives of airmen forced down into the sea. Fast motor boats were used for this, as were seaplanes and flying boats. Allied merchant convoys were also often accompanied by special rescue ships to pick up survivors from other vessels that had been torpedoed. The invention of the helicopter, with the ability to hover over one spot and winch up survivors, transformed air-sea rescue although the United States still deployed seaplanes to rescue pilots shot down off the coast of Vietnam as late as 1966.

III MODERN SEA RESCUE ARRANGEMENTS
Sea rescue in Britain is coordinated by the Coastguard, a government agency. There are 21 operational centres around the coast and 1,000 miles out into the Atlantic. As well as watching over shipping lanes to prevent accidents, radar helps in search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. To alert the authorities to the need for rescue, satellite distress beacons are widely carried on ships; coastguards also monitor international distress radio frequencies and receive 999 emergency telephone calls from the public. A global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) is being phased in by 1999, requiring ships to carry satellite communications equipment that enables them to receive information from coastguards about nearby emergencies. In Britain coastguards assisted in 5,900 incidents in 1994, helping 11,600 people. There are about 500 full-time coastguards, plus 3,500 volunteer auxiliaries.
The armed forces still play an important role in sea rescue, with Royal Navy and RAF helicopters stationed round the coast to respond rapidly. Coastguard helicopters fill gaps in the coverage. Maritime patrol aircraft such as the British Nimrod can also assist with SAR work; although unable to retrieve survivors, they can search large areas further out to sea than land-based helicopters can reach,and direct other rescuers.

The RNLI, which is still a voluntary body, remains an important part of Britain's sea rescue arrangements. It maintains both deep-sea lifeboats and inshore craft in its stations. Its lifeboats are launched 16 times and save 4 lives on average per day.

Brief History of Port Talbot Station: D class lifeboat placed on service on 22 May 1966. Council paid £750 towards the cost of the inshore lifeboat house and the balance was paid by Mr D A Scott and associates. Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Crew Member Robert Vernon Harris in recognition of his courage, initiative and seamanship when in rough seas he transferred from the lifeboat to the 24ft converted ship's lifeboat Panama to secure a tow and to reassure the three crew whilst the craft was towed to a mooring in the River Afan on 4 March 1995. The Panama had suffered engine failure. Framed letters of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution awarded to crew members Leigh Worth and Stanley May in recognition of their fine efforts during this service. In 1999 framed letters of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Mr David Acland, presented to Helmsman Matthew Rossi and Crew Member Leon Murphy for a service on the night of 5 November. A letter of thanks signed by the Director, was presented to Crew Member David Jones. A man had fallen overboard from the ore carrier Mineral Century. Despite a nine to fifteen feet swell and rough seas the man was recovered and airlifted to hospital. The man had initially been found by the pilot vessel Seamark and the master received a letter of thanks signed by the Chief of Operations



IV INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention, made under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization, imposes standards for lifesaving equipment that must be carried on vessels, as well as imposing other safety requirements. The most recent version of the convention dates from 1974, although it has been amended since then.copy right encarta