Games help coastguards search for closer links

Coastguard units from around the country have forged closer working and training links after the search and rescue world’s equivalent of the Olympics.

The seventh Joint Search and Rescue competition between the Irish Coast Guard and HM Coastguard Northern Ireland was staged in Youghal, Co Cork, over the weekend.

Twelve team members from each of the divisions — Dublin, Malin, Valentia and HM Coastguard Northern Ireland — competed in a range of coastguard skills including leadership, search planning and coordination both on water and ashore; rescue techniques, chart work, knots, communications, compass work, and salvage pump operations.

The competition was organised by the volunteer members of the Youghal Coast Guard unit under their leader Mike Lee.

The weekend event also provided a forum for the national maritime search and rescue management to discuss policy.

The games are designed to increase the level of professionalism of all coastguard members, and to enhance cooperation between the divisions.

There has been a tradition of co-operation and training between coastguard divisions since the 1980s.

At that time, the modern Irish Coast Guard began to develop its cliff rescue capability when personnel from Belfast Coastguard District provided training and external assessment to coastguard units.