Hugh McFarlane, who writes for us from time to time on shipping movements, has alerted us to the valuable information published in Inverclyde Now on the extent of the calls yesterday on Clyde Coastguard – which the London-based UK government, through a shipping minister with no knowledge, experience or previously declared interest in maritime matters, remains set to close.
Clyde Coastguard dealt with seventeen incidents yesterday, in the storm-to-hurricane force conditions of the day – where Belfast, which is to assume their responsibilities, had two.
The incidents ranged from a fire on a work boat at Sandbank, to a windsurfer (oh yes – but then surfers ride tsunamis) in trouble, to a fishing boat (still) in trouble against the sea wall of Ardrossan Marina, to a woman missing on the coast at Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, to the yacht Sapphire rescued from Loch Creran by Oban lifeboat, to emergency he,icopter transfers of patients from islands to mainland hospitals – and all varieties of other incidents.
Read the full hour by hour account at Inverclyde Now – and resolve to do all you can – even now – to stop the closure of this very necessary service.
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