Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team

28/05/2026

🏊 🛟

Operational Learning is a vital part of HM Coastguard and is developed through a range of processes, including Informal Mission Reviews and Post Mission Reviews. By reviewing actions and outcomes from both incident and non-incident activities, we are able to identify where procedures, decisions, actions and overall outcomes can be improved, helping us continually develop and enhance the way we operate.

Last night’s session focused on putting our learning into practice through water rescue scenarios based on incidents we’ve attended in and around Whitehaven Marina Outer Harbour.

A huge thank you to the Marina for their continued support and understanding of both our training and operational needs. Their longstanding support, along with that of all our landowners and stakeholders, plays a vital role in the success of our rescue operations.

𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 ☎️9⃣9⃣9⃣ 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙.
From Rope Rescue (cliff/structure/vessel access etc), Water Rescue, Mud Rescue, casualty evacuation, vessels in distress, Lost & Missing Persons Searches, suspicious items (ordnance/pyrotechnics), Royal Fish (whales, sturgeons, porpoises and dolphins) etc, then we’ve got you covered should you need us.

HM Coastguard are responsible for the initiation and coordination of civil maritime search and rescue within the UK search and rescue region. This includes the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources to respond to persons either in distress at sea, or to persons at risk of injury or death on the cliffs or shoreline of the UK as well as some inland waters (for Cumbria this includes Derwentwater, Ullswater, Coniston and Windermere).

27/05/2026

27/05/2026

🚨📟𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗧🚨📟 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 #𝟑𝟏 & #𝟑𝟐

🚨📟 #𝟑𝟏 - 🆘 𝐏𝐀𝐍-𝐏𝐀𝐍 𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 - 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 🚤
Tasked to assist a vessel suffering engine failure in the Saltom Bay area. After multiple attempts, the crew were unable to restart the engine and as they were drifting towards the rocks they contacted the Coastguard via VHF to report their situation and request assistance.

Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team & Maryport Coastguard Rescue Team were tasked to establish visual contact with the vessel, while Workington Lifeboat launched their ALB to take the casualty vessel safely under tow back to Whitehaven Marina, where it was met and secured by Coastguard Rescue Officers.

Meanwhile…

🚨📟 #𝟑𝟐 𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 - 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧
With our Station Officer already on the marina as the initial tasking came through, he was immediately on scene.

Using the Sealock as a vantage point, a second vessel was spotted near Wh**ey Rock, raising immediate concern. Moments later, it had drifted dangerously close to the rocks.

The Operations Room was updated of a second potential incident, while half the team was deployed and prepared to carry out a potential sn**ch water rescue.

As the team approached, the boat ran aground on the rocks and turned broadside on, meaning it soon became swamped with water. The two persons onboard entered the water but were quickly safely ashore.

Swamped and sitting on the high water line, it required significant effort to free before we managed to refloat.

Workington Lifeboat had by this point cleared from the previous incident, however the shallow water and rocky hazards prevented them from getting close enough to safely establish a tow.
The vessel was ultimately left at anchor for the owner to arrange recovery.

𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 ☎️9⃣9⃣9⃣ 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙.
From Rope Rescue (cliff/structure/vessel access etc), Water Rescue, Mud Rescue, casualty evacuation, vessels in distress, Lost & Missing Persons Searches, suspicious items (ordnance/pyrotechnics), Royal Fish (whales, sturgeons, porpoises and dolphins) etc, then we’ve got you covered should you need us.

HM Coastguard are responsible for the initiation and coordination of civil maritime search and rescue within the UK search and rescue region. This includes the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources to respond to persons either in distress at sea, or to persons at risk of injury or death on the cliffs or shoreline of the UK as well as some inland waters (for Cumbria this includes Derwentwater, Ullswater, Coniston and Windermere).

25/05/2026

We couldn't have asked for better bank holiday weekend weather. 😎👌.
We hope you're all having a lovely and safe time.
𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 ☎️9⃣9⃣9⃣ 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙.
From Rope Rescue (cliff/structure/vessel access etc), Water Rescue, Mud Rescue, casualty evacuation, vessels in distress, Lost & Missing Persons Searches, suspicious items (ordnance/pyrotechnics), Royal Fish (whales, sturgeons, porpoises and dolphins) etc, then we’ve got you covered should you need us.

HM Coastguard are responsible for the initiation and coordination of civil maritime search and rescue within the UK search and rescue region. This includes the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources to respond to persons either in distress at sea, or to persons at risk of injury or death on the cliffs or shoreline of the UK as well as some inland waters (for Cumbria this includes Derwentwater, Ullswater, Coniston and Windermere).

23/05/2026

The team are down with Maryport Coastguard Rescue Team, come along!

23/05/2026

The weather is due to be glorious this weekend 😎. Please take care around water and enjoy it safely.
𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 ☎️9⃣9⃣9⃣ 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙.

21/05/2026

Last night’s training session on North Side Workington focused on rescuing casualties stranded on a cliff face — what we call a “gecko position” 🦎

Scenarios like this happen for a number of reasons, and taskings of this nature for the team have including someone climbing cliffs to escape a rising tide, and a paraglider left suspended after a crash landing.

During the exercise, a Rope Rescue Technician descended using an Immediate Rescue setup. This setup is established and operated by just two technicians, and is used when there is an immediate risk to life. One reaching the casualty they were secured into our Emergency Rescue Sling.

Meanwhile, additional team members at the cliff top arrived and rigged the recovery system, before transferring the load into the obelisk. The obelisk provides vital ground clearance, allowing for a safer and smoother recovery over the cliff edge and back to safety.

A strong team effort as always and invaluable training, ensuring we remain ready for any rescue situations 👏

𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 ☎️9⃣9⃣9⃣ 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙.
From Rope Rescue (cliff/structure/vessel access etc), Water Rescue, Mud Rescue, casualty evacuation, vessels in distress, Lost & Missing Persons Searches, suspicious items (ordnance/pyrotechnics), Royal Fish (whales, sturgeons, porpoises and dolphins) etc, then we’ve got you covered should you need us.

HM Coastguard are responsible for the initiation and coordination of civil maritime search and rescue within the UK search and rescue region. This includes the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources to respond to persons either in distress at sea, or to persons at risk of injury or death on the cliffs or shoreline of the UK as well as some inland waters (for Cumbria this includes Derwentwater, Ullswater, Coniston and Windermere).

20/05/2026

Local Notice to Mariners no 1 of 2026

19/05/2026

🚨📟𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗧🚨📟 #𝟐𝟖 - 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫 - 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

We were tasked this afternoon by our Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Belfast Coastguard, after a 999 call was received reporting a vessel appearing to be in difficulty and heading towards the breakwater rock armour at Harrington.

Our Coastguard Rescue Officers, along with one of our Full Time Officers, swiftly deployed and were soon on scene. On arrival, we found a motorised leisure craft with two persons onboard had ran aground on the rock armour.

With onshore winds holding the damaged vessel to the rock armour, our main concern was to ensuring that the two persons onboard were safely out of the water, not injured and could be brought ashore.

With Workington Lifeboat approaching, we immediately deployed Coastguard Rescue Officers along the rock armour ready to conduct a sn**ch water rescue, and to assess the crew. We were glad to confirm both persons were out of the water.

With the casualties still in a precarious position on the rock armour, working with the lifeboat crew we accompanied the two persons across the rocks and into the D Class lifeboat, where they were transported to the safety of shore so we could conduct a full medical assessment.

This type of incident goes to show the importance of wearing a lifejacket, having the means to call for assistance (VHF or mobile phone) and calling as early as possible for assistance. It also shows the importance of a multiagency response, with Coastguard Rescue Teams and Lifeboat crews working seamlessly together.

We are thankful to the sailing club for assisting by opening their building to allow the casualties to get warmed up. Thank you also to the first informant for raising their concerns by calling 999 for the Coastguard.

𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 ☎️9⃣9⃣9⃣ 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙.
From Rope Rescue (cliff/structure/vessel access etc), Water Rescue, Mud Rescue, casualty evacuation, vessels in distress, Lost & Missing Persons Searches, suspicious items (ordnance/pyrotechnics), Royal Fish (whales, sturgeons, porpoises and dolphins) etc, then we’ve got you covered should you need us.

HM Coastguard are responsible for the initiation and coordination of civil maritime search and rescue within the UK search and rescue region. This includes the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources to respond to persons either in distress at sea, or to persons at risk of injury or death on the cliffs or shoreline of the UK as well as some inland waters (for Cumbria this includes Derwentwater, Ullswater, Coniston and Windermere).