Her Majesty's Coastguard is the agency of the government of the United Kingdom concerned with co-ordinating rescue at sea.

Ships in distress or the public reporting an accident should make a Mayday call on MF radio, marine VHF radio channel 16, or by dialling 999 on a telephone. The Coastguard may call on the RNLI or their own land-based rescue personnel or rescue helicopters to take part. Air-Sea rescue helicopters are provided by the Royal Navy and the Irish Air Corps.

It also co-ordinates the treatment of casualties by calling the ambulance service, hospitals and recompression chambers. Various organisations around the UK such as Surf Life Saving Clubs can also be declared as Coastguard facilities and called upon in emergencies.

The Coastguard started life in 1809 in a anti-smuggling role, as the "Preventive Water Guard". It was manned by former Royal Navy sailors. It also took on its life saving duties, which was a bigger problem in those days of sail, reliance on good weather for safe journeys and much larger fishing fleets than at present.

External links

• HM Coastguard
• The Maritime and Coastguard Agency