A Partner of the Year Award was presented to Area 17 coastguards at the Police Scotland Divisional Commander awards on Tuesday 17 December.
Held at Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre, the ceremony saw volunteers and HM Coastguard staff praised for their partnership working and collaborative approach throughout the year.
Station Officers Jillian Penman and Steven Miller, from Inveraray and Oban teams collected the award, alongside Campbeltown Coastguard Rescue Officer Neil Carey and Senior Coastal Operations Officer Adrian Kay.
Adrian said: “It's been great to celebrate the end of the year by seeing our coastguards’ work being recognised with this prestigious award. It was a really powerful reminder of why we do what we do.”
HM Coastguard’s Area 17 covers Argyll and the Islands, stretching across the mainland to the Inner Hebrides. The area consists of 16 Coastguard Rescue Teams, with 11 of these based on the islands.
In such remote areas, collaborative work between emergency services is routine and essential, from missing people to storms, landslides, floods and medical evacuations, often in difficult and challenging weather conditions.

Adrian added: “We've worked very hard with our partners, particularly over the past few years, to deliver the best service we can for those visiting, working and living across the area- from the mainland towns to our remoter islands like Tiree and Jura.
“When an incident occurs in these locations, it's often a partnership response involving multiple agencies, so it's been very important to forge close links with fellow emergency services. The logistics and resourcing involved in responding to emergencies here can be intensive and protracted.
“Enhancing our response to missing persons searches has found us working more closely with police colleagues, both on the coast and supporting incidents further inland. Improvements in how we provide casualty care have also been recognised by NHS and ambulances services.”
Chief Inspector Lee Page, who nominated the team, said: “His Majesty’s Coastguard is an invaluable partner, supporting many operations in the area, and I have no doubt the contribution of Area 17 has helped save lives.
“Volunteers regularly assist with missing person investigations, which can be large scale, complex searches, and we rely on their expert knowledge and resources alongside our own.”
He added: “But it’s not only the contribution to operations which makes them our Partner of the Year. The team has also been proactive in strengthening local partnership working relationships and knowledge sharing.
“The volunteers go above and beyond to help meet the needs of our rural, isolated communities and deserve recognition for their work.”
Area 17 is currently recruiting for Coastguard Rescue Officers. You can find more information about joining the Coastguard Rescue Service here.