Coastguard Functions
It can be seen that the MCA, acting either on behalf of the Secretary of State or through HM Coastguard in the exercise of its statutory functions, carries out 6 of the 10 activities described below. It provides material assistance to partner organisations in respect of the remaining four activities.
| Function | Tasks | Lead Agency |
| 1. Search And Rescue | Provision of initiation, coordination and direction of search and rescue units to the assistance of distresse ships or persons, provision of distress watch on GMDSS means and 999 system, provision of radio medical advice. HM Coastguard is also charged with the rescue of persons in distress on the cliffs or shoreline of the UK. | HM Coastguard |
| 2. Pollution Response | Aerial surveillance of suspect or actual pollution, mobilisation of cleanup or mitigation teams, provision of information to SOSREP, provision of information to Bonn contracting states regarding movement of pollution, provision of information to SafeSeaNet, participation in CP exercises, identification and monitoring of places of refuge, monitoring and control of minor pollution incidents. | MCA |
| 3. Vessel Traffic Management | Provision of Traffic Information Service at Dover Strait TSS, Eastern Irish Sea VTS, Sunk VTS and at any other location where VTS is established as a safety measure either as an information or an organisation service), monitoring of traffic through reporting schemes, general monitoring of traffic around the UK for observance of COLREGS and to detect unusual or unsafe movement. Monitoring of vessel movement and type to identify high risk ships (not just tank ships), monitoring of hazardous cargo lists, monitoring of vessels proceeding under voyage limits imposed by MCA (tows, detained vessels proceeding to repair ports etc), provision of maritime safety information, monitoring of temporary exclusion zones, monitoring of vessels to ensure compliance with COLREGS, monitoring of traffic around OREI’s and other critical national infrastructure (pipelines, oil and gas platforms etc), provision of information to MAIB, provision of SAR Cooperation plans to other emergency services as required, mobilisation of MIRG, provision of services underpinning eNav, provision of information to Marine Management Organisation, participation in multi agency exercises, monitoring of protected and dangerous wrecks, monitoring of marine conservation zones. | HM Coastguard |
| 4. Accident and Disaster Response | Discharge duties required of category 1 responder including warning and informing, assisting other category 1 responders at scene of major incident by provision of resources (including communications), testing contingency plans by participating in exercises. | HM Coastguard |
| 5. Maritime Safety | Acting as flag state, providing effective regulatory framework for manning, equipment, construction and operation of ships. Inspecting foreign ships in UK ports and using statutory powers to prevent the operation of substandard ships in UK waters. | MCA |
| 6. Maritime Security | Provision of ship movement information, monitoring and selecting ships for inspection by MCA/TRANSEC inspectors, monitoring ship movements around isolated port facilities to guard against undeclared port calls, provision of ship specific information to security services as required, reception of ship security alerts, | HM Coastguard/DfT |
| 7. Customs | Monitoring of vessel movement for unusual activity (cooperage), provision of incident or track information for prevention and detection of crime, identification and monitoring of target ships scheduled to arrive at UK ports or transit UK waters, notification of suspicious activity on board ship discovered by MCA surveyors. | UK Border Agency |
| 8. Border Control | Monitoring of vessel movement for unusual activity (people smuggling), provision of incident or track information for prevention and detection of crime, identification and monitoring of target ships scheduled to arrive at UK ports or transit UK waters, provision of identity of persons assisted or rescued, notification of seafarers with suspicious or deficient documentation discovered at ship inspections by MCA surveyors, notification of stowaway or humanitarian rescue reports from ships bound to UK | UK Border Agency |
| 9. Fisheries Control | Monitoring of vessel movement to detect illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing. Surveillance of fishing grounds. Identification of suspect fishing vessels for inspection by MCA surveyors and/or fisheries officers. | DEFRA and devolved administrations, sea fisheries committees |
| 10. Law Enforcement | Reporting of breaches of maritime legislation principally flowing from the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, gathering and collation of evidence to criminal standard. More general prevention of maritime crime. | MCA/Police/UKBA |
Created:28th December 2012 - - - -
Last Updated:30th December 2012