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The Sikorsky S-92 aircraft is available 24 hours, at 15 minutes notice by day and 45 minutes at night. It has a crew of 4 and a maximum range of 500nm in still air or 150nm operational radius of action with 19 survivors. The aircrafts maximum speed is 150kts, but cruises at 125kts.
The aircraft is fitted with a winch system comprising of two totally separate and independent winches, both capable of lifting 600lbs. This with Forward Looking Infa-Red, Night Sun, Radar and a host of specialist equipment make it a invaluable tool.
North Isles Emergency Towing Vessels
All year round either of these vessels under contract to the MCA patrol the Fair Isle Channel and Pentland Firth, including the water around the Orkney and Shetland Isles. Click on the pictures for more vessel details.
Shetland has two Severn class R.N.L.I. all weather vessels, the "Charles Lidbury" based at Aith on the west and the "Michael & Jane Vernon" at Lerwick on the east of mainland Shetland.
Orkney also has two Severn Class Lifeboats, the "Margaret Foster" based in Kirkwall, on the East, and the "Violet, Dorothy & Kathleen" in Stromness on the west of mainland Orkney. Orkney also has an Arun Class vessel based at Longhope on the island of Hoy, to the south of the mainland of Orkney, the "Sir Max Aitken II". There are two other vessels on mainland Scotland available on request via MRCC Aberdeen, they are the "The Queen Mother" (Arun) in Thurso, and the "Roy Barker II" (Trent) based in Wick.
Details on the vessels can be found by clicking on the picture above.
Shetland District has a large area of coastline, covering this area are Thirty One teams of trained Volunteer Coastguards, with Rescue Vehicles and Rescue Equipment for saving of life.
The Coastguard Rescue Service is a voluntary organisation managed, trained and equipped by HM Coastguard. The Service is made up of members of the public with an interest in and a concern for the safety of life at sea, able and willing to undertake public service on a volunteer basis. Although classed as volunteers they receive remuneration for actual hours worked, including training.
Close liaison with all the other emergency services is an important part of the non rescue duties as is visiting schools, local shows, and other equally satisfying public relations duties.
In an emergency, the teams are tasked by means of pagers direct from MRCC Shetland, and can be at scene of an incident anywhere within their area of responsibility within 30 minutes, often less.
Volunteers should contact Shetland MRCC on 01595 692976
Shetland District Rescue Teams:
Click here for the trial Calendar
Shetland Sector Manager John Webster, is situated in the Lerwick Sector Base near to the MRCC, using the upstairs office, the Lerwick CRT use the base of the building. The Sector manager is responsible for 9 Coast Rescue Teams (Initial) and 8 Coast Rescue Teams , guarding the Shetland shoreline, with a distance of 70 miles separating the teams, from Sumburgh the most southerly team to Baltasound the most northerly. Eight of the teams are situated on outlying islands around the mainland of Shetland.
Orkney Sector Manager Ian MacDonald is situated within the new Kirkwall Sector Base, with the sector vehicle and Kirkwall CRT. He is responsible for 8 Coast Rescue Teams (Initial) and 6 Coast Rescue Teams. The teams are separated by over 40 miles, from Broughness the most southerly, to the northern isle of North Ronaldsay. 9 of the teams are situated on outlying islands.
Bressay
Whalsay
Skerries
North
Roe
West Burra Isle
Sullom
Voe
Noness
Huxter
Gloup
Lerwick
Baltasound
Mid
Yell
Fetlar
Hillswick
Walls
Sumburgh
Fair
Isles
** A Coast Rescue Teams (Initial) (CRT (I)) provides a two man response for an area, and relies on the Coast Rescue Team (CRT) to assist when needed.
Copyright © 2000 [Errol Smith]. All rights reserved.
Revised: January 02, 2008
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