Across the UK, just under 400 dedicated officers work in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA’s) Rescue Coordination Centres. These centres cover both maritime and aeronautical search and rescue and our Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) centres.
Our teams cover more than 11,000 miles of UK coastline, from Falmouth to Shetland. They provide a vital service around the clock to people in an emergency.
999, Coastguard
From the moment a call is received, operations officers use their judgement, experience and communication skills to gather potentially lifesaving information. Every second matters and that time is spent building situational awareness to coordinate an appropriate response.
Charlie Burton, MCA Maritime Operations Team Leader, explained that a key skill for responding to emergency calls is staying composed under pressure.
He said:
When we receive an emergency call, we need to gather as much information as possible so that we can plan effectively. We ask what happened, where the caller is, what the weather conditions are and any other relevant details.
These conversations can be difficult. Callers can be emotional, stressed or upset, so it's key that our teams keep them as calm as possible to get the most accurate information available.
Coordinating an emergency response
Getting the right help to the right place means understanding a situation as it unfolds, sometimes with very little information. Once the essential details are clear, the team decides on the best response.
That might mean sending a lifeboat, a coastguard rescue team or aircraft. Where air support is needed, aeronautical operations officers work with emergency service partners to find out which aircraft are available and closest to the incident.
Neil Radestock, Aeronautical Operations Team Leader, coordinates air responses to emergency situations.
He said:
"I began my career in 2015 having previously spent 20 years working for the Ministry of Defence (MOD). I had never worked in a control room before and the sheer size of the room struck me when I first walked in.
"My role involves coordinating requests from our emergency service partners for air assistance for people in difficulty across the UK, whether on land or at sea. The role is very fulfilling as you are making a difference to people's lives and ensuring that we help return that person to their loved ones.
"It also gives great perspective that life can change in an instant, for better or worse and it makes you appreciate the little things in life."
Close-knit teams
Working in a control room can be demanding, and officers rely on each other to get through difficult situations. Because the centres operate around the clock, colleagues from across the country can’t meet in person, but their time on the phone still brings them together.
Lea Durham has worked at Humber Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre for four years, a patch covering a large section of the UK.
She said:
"The role involves working with teams across the country to coordinate an effective response. You do find yourself building good relationships with colleagues based in other parts of the country.
“It sounds cheesy, but the people you work with everyday become like family. You can find yourself spending more time with your colleagues than the people at home so getting along is important.
"Outside of this role you would not experience these situations. Sometimes calls can be quite harrowing and going through these things together naturally brings you closer."
Lea explained that the team always make time to debrief and decompress after a call and there are support networks in place if anyone in the team wants to further reflect on a situation.
A message to the team
Matt Leat, Deputy Chief Coastguard, said:
The HM Coastguard Chief Officers Group and I are incredibly proud of the work our officers undertake every day. These are demanding roles that require people to remain calm under pressure, exercise sound judgement and make time-critical decisions, often in challenging circumstances.
It all starts in control, and this week we want to say thank you to everyone working across our Rescue Coordination Centres and VTS Centres. Your professionalism, dedication and commitment make a real difference every day.
Find out more about International Control Room Week and read about our operations team roles within HM Coastguard.
