Clyde Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) closed today.

The Maritime Coastguard Agency has pledged that there will be ‘no reduction in front line rescue resources’ and 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 click here and visit 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.

Subscribe to Practical Boat Owner this Christmas and save up to 31%!