January
2009Grounds for separation
The End of 121.5MHz
Falmouth Coastguard HQ struck by lightning
The train not stopping...
When it comes to the crunch
30 Jan: Grounds for separation
Anyone venturing round
Land’s end this summer – especially those travelling between the
Bristol and the
Scillies – needs to be aware that the existing
Traffic Separation Scheme
between Lands
End and the Scillies is being extended a further thirteen miles
northwards, to
50° 20’N, with effect from 1 July. The change is intended to keep ships away from the “South-West Wave Hub” – an experimental 20 megawatt wave-powered power station. Construction work on the £30m project has yet to begin, but it is expected to be operational sometime in 2010.
Half a million EPIRBs will become obsolete, as the International Cospas-Sarsat system stops processing of 121.5/243MHz distress signals on 1 February 2009.
SAR authorities around the world are advising all beacon owners and users to replace their 121.5 and 243 MHz EPIRBs with 406MHz models as soon as possible. They do, however, point out that gadgets such as man overboard systems and homing transmitters that do not rely on satellite detection will not be affected by the phase-out of satellite processing at 121.5 MHz.
406MHz EPIRBs will continue to transmit low power signals on 121.5MHz for short-range homing purposes, as their high-power digital signals on 406MHz are transmitted in such short bursts that it is impossible to home-in on them.
18 Jan: Falmouth Coastguard HQ struck by lightning
Falmouth
Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) is reported to be out of
action, after being struck by lightning at about 11pm on Saturday.
Corwall Fire Brigade was called and the building was evacuated because
of smoke coming from electrical equipment.
The building has since been checked and appears to be intact, but the communications equipment has suffered severe damage.
For the time being, Brixham MRCC will be taking over Falmouth's monitoring and co-ordination functions, including the operation of three remote radio stations at The Lizard, Trevose Head, and Lands End, which will handle radio checks, monitor radio frequencies and respond to alerts from shipping.
In a press release issued this morning, Richard Parkes, Duty Director for the MCA is quoted as saying: "I'm relieved that none of our staff were injured. All our MRCCs are paired with another for exactly a situation like this so Brixham should be able to operate as Falmouth without the public even realising. We're extending our operations by using the remote stations at The Lizard, Trevose and Lands End so Im confident that we can continue to provide our usual co-ordination service until Falmouth is returned to full working order."
Lightning can strike twice!
This is the second time that Falmouth MRCC has been put out of action by lightning strike in less than six years: last time was in March 2003
The building has since been checked and appears to be intact, but the communications equipment has suffered severe damage.
For the time being, Brixham MRCC will be taking over Falmouth's monitoring and co-ordination functions, including the operation of three remote radio stations at The Lizard, Trevose Head, and Lands End, which will handle radio checks, monitor radio frequencies and respond to alerts from shipping.
In a press release issued this morning, Richard Parkes, Duty Director for the MCA is quoted as saying: "I'm relieved that none of our staff were injured. All our MRCCs are paired with another for exactly a situation like this so Brixham should be able to operate as Falmouth without the public even realising. We're extending our operations by using the remote stations at The Lizard, Trevose and Lands End so Im confident that we can continue to provide our usual co-ordination service until Falmouth is returned to full working order."
Lightning can strike twice!
This is the second time that Falmouth MRCC has been put out of action by lightning strike in less than six years: last time was in March 2003
07 Jan:The train not stopping...
GPS failure has been blamed blamed for a Southern train being unable to stop at any of its scheduled stations between East Croydon and Caterham, last week.
Apparently, the intermediate stations have platforms of different lengths ... and without GPS, the driver couldn't open the correct doors.
07 Jan:When it comes to the crunch
The MAIB has published its preliminary report into a collision between the 135m container ship Herm and the 10m trawler Nantewas.
The collision happened just before 0900 on 18 September, in broad daylight, good visibility, and light winds, between two vessels that both had radar, and that had both seen eachother on radar at least ten minutes before the collision occurred.
According to the MAIB report:-
Herm failed to alter course in compliance with the COLREGs, and Nantewas did not maintain a lookout and was therefore unaware of Herm’s approach, on a collision course. Nantewas was immediately disabled following the collision, and issued a “Mayday”, which was responded to by several vessels in the area. Herm continued on passage for around 8 minutes, but returned to the scene to offer assistance only after becoming aware of her involvement in the collision."