Brixham MRCC

[lakelandterrier]

Just had this information through regarding the closing of Brixham Coastguard & transfer of responsibilities to Falmouth.

May be of use to any of us on the water between Topsham motorway bridge & Dodman Point.

Now how am I going to dispose of my time-expired flares (up end Dec 2104)?????

"Some changes have taken place to the way the MCA delivers maritime and coastal search and rescue coordination in Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. In September, the new National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) in Fareham opened and assumed responsibility for the operational areas previously managed by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) Solent and Portland. Following this, on 31 Oct 14 MRCC Brixham closed and their current area of responsibility was be transferred to MRCC Falmouth which is now in the national network. This transfer was completed on schedule. The change to the way in which the MCA delivers search and rescue coordination, the availability of Coastguard Rescue Teams, lifeboats , search and rescue helicopters in your areas remains unaffected. The introduction of a 'national network' will enable the NMOC and 10 Coastguard Operation Centres (CGOC) to coordinate any incident around the UK coast. Incidents will continue to be managed locally, with mobile teams, but with a much better support network available nationally. You will notice no difference in the service you receive. 999 calls and distress broadcasts will be dealt with and search and rescue missions coordinated as they are now.

Emergency Calls: To report a coastal or maritime emergency call 999 and ask for Coastguard and the operator will transfer the call to the appropriate Coastguard Operations Centre.
Contacting the Coastguard Directly by Phone: Following the transfer of MRCC Brixham's responsibilities to MRCC Falmouth, the telephone numbers you currently use to make routine, x-directory and 999 calls will remain the same and should continue to be used. As transition of MRCCs into the national network progresses around the country, a new national number will be introduced. We will publish this number separately at a later date.
Contacting the Coastguard by VHF I MF DSC and VHF I MF Radio: Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is the preferred method of contacting UK Coastguard and all existing MMSI numbers will remain in use. The marine VHF and MF radio coverage provided by HM Coastguard remains unchanged and you should use the radio call sign 'Falmouth Coastguard' when operating in the former Brixham area.
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. Go to www .gov.uk and search for Maritime Safety and Navigation for up to date information.
Time Expired Pyrotechnics: Leisure sailors who need to dispose of time expired pyrotechnics should continue to phone their nearest operations centre for guidance, in this case MRCC Falmouth (see above - Contacting the Coastguard Directly by Phone)."