Maritime and Coastguard Agency

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Latest Episodes:

Hints, tips and advice on staying safe on your paddle board Aug 29, 2023

Paddle boarding is a hugely popular leisure activity across the UK.
And while many have a great experience, others have got themselves into difficulty and needed to be rescued.
In this podcast, HM Coastguard explores the best way to make sure your paddle boarding day out is a good one.

Power with responsibility: use your jetski wisely or face the consequences Jul 19, 2023

New laws governing how powered watercraft are used on the sea are about safety, not stopping people's fun.
Following high profile incidents when there have been serious injuries and even deaths, the laws have been changed to call irresponsible users, owners and operators to account.
In this latest podcast, we look at how having fun needs to be done responsibly when it comes to powered craft like jetskis.

Unpacking the Shipping Forecast Jun 29, 2023

The Shipping Forecast... it's a national treasure but it's also something that could help save your life if you're travelling UK seas.
Dover, Fisher, German Bight, North Utsire, South Utsire ... it might sound like some sort of code but it's also part of vital maritime safety information.
In this podcast, we explore what the Shipping Forecast is, how to interpret it and why it truly matters for the mariners on our seas.
Excerpts from the Shipping Forecast used by permission of BBC Radio 4

The Science of the Seabed Mar 10, 2023

We know more about the surface of the moon then we do about the oceans on our planet.
And yet, seabed mapping is a vital part of maritime safety and the economy that is part and parcel of our every day lives.
We've been exploring the whole topic of hydrography and why it matters...

Why making waves helps maritime safety - World Radio Day Feb 13, 2023

It's World Radio Day - a day to celebrate all that it is and helps us to do. It was in the 1800s when an Italian engineer called Guglielmo Marconi used radio waves to transmit signals across a distance of several miles.
Radio has been a big part of life ever since - and provides some really vital aspects of maritime safety.
We've been exploring radio with three of those at the MCA who are involved with aspects of the work that uses it most.

Our thanks to the BBC for the Shipping Forecast excerpt.
Full story of the rescue of the crew of the Lady Rosemary here:
https://hmcoastguard.blogspot.com/2021/11/couple-rescued-were-just-minutes-from.html

Not so glorious mud Jan 04, 2023

Be careful of hidden dangers on our beaches.
It might look like sand but it could well be mud - checking local signs and tide times could help prevent your dream day out from becoming a nightmare.
Mike Buratti, area commander for Merseyside has been talking about the dangers of muddy beaches in our latest audio podcast.

Reflection for Sea Sunday Jul 10, 2022

Sea Sunday is a day to remember and be thankful for all those who work and serve in maritime.
This reflection, led by the MCA's chaplain Rev Tom Ebbens and Rev Canon Richard Bartlett of West Purbeck Benefice in Dorset, is a thought-provoking look at the role of maritime in our every day lives from the coastguards who oversee our safety at the coast and on the sea, to seafarers who bring us so much of our daily lives and those who work in the background to support them.
Choir: Congregation of West Purbeck Benefice
Conductor: Paul Martin
Organist: Dr Richard Hall
Readers: Dawn Petrie & Andrea Smith

Maritime Safety Week: How technology could save your life Jul 02, 2021

Got all the right kit for going out to sea with your paddleboard or kayak? This podcast explores the kind of technology that could help you get out of trouble if things go wrong while you're out.
This podcast talks to Her Majesty's Coastguard's technical gurus for some top tips on staying safe.

Why everyone needs to play a part in a fair future for Seafarers Jun 18, 2021

To mark Day of the Seafarer, we've brought together four people from across the Maritime and Coastguard Agency with different perspectives of seafarers.
The International Maritime Organization has carried out a survey asking seafarers a number of questions - we've been musing over the results in this latest MCA podcast.

Looking ahead to driving forward maritime innovation in 2021 Jan 11, 2021

Hear the latest plans on how the Maritime and Coastguard Agency continues to drive forward innovation and supporting the industry in its work for our first podcast of 2021.

When COVID came to town: Review of the Year 2020 Dec 23, 2020

It was the year that - for a time - the world came to a standstill. The year when a disease called COVID-19 dominated our lives. But maritime safety has to carry on regardless - and brought with it opportunities as well as challenges.
Three of those responsible for leading the Maritime and Coastguard Agency through it all - its chief executive, Director of HM Coastguard and Director of Maritime Services, have been talking about 2020 as well as looking forward to 2021.

Coastguard technology and cattle: how one's been helping the other in Sussex Aug 19, 2020

What happens when you need help tracking a herd of cattle on a nature reserve? You call in the people who know all about tall radio masts, particularly in coastal regions.
Hear what happened when Her Majesty's Coastguard stepped in to help with a conservation project.

Record breaking: The story behind HM Coastguard's busiest day Aug 06, 2020

As the number of incidents went up and up, it soon became clear that Friday 31 July was going to be memorable for Her Majesty's Coastguards.
With some coastguard rescue teams hardly able to draw breath between incidents and the search and rescue helicopters working alongside lifeboats and hovercraft, it was a day that will remain in the memory of many for months and years to come.
We've brought together four members of HM Coastguard to talk about that day and to offer some heartfelt advice for all those heading to the coast.

Regenerating the shipping industry: innovation with safety at its heart Jul 30, 2020

Safety lies at the heart of what the Maritime and Coastguard Agency does. But how does that sit with a maritime industry anxious to develop new technology with an MCA equally keen to make sure that it's properly regulated.
In this MCA podcast, we're exploring that work with some of the Maritime Future Technologies team. It's a fascinating discussion around autonomous ships, carbon emissions and how the MCA will support industry in these challenging but exciting times.

Taking care of seafarers: the day the MCA detained five ships Jul 09, 2020

It drew worldwide attention. On the 19 June 2020, surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency boarded six ships, five in Tilbury, one in Avonmouth and carried out full inspections. It followed discussions at international level about the way the crews were being treated. Serious concerns about their welfare led to a decision to have the unannounced inspections. Five ships were detained, four at Tilbury, one at Avonmouth.

All five detained ships were from the same company – Global Cruise Lines Limited. Four were flagged with the Bahamas and one with Portugal (Madeira) .

This is the story of those detentions.