Coastguard Rescue Teams at Ventnor and The Needles have been equipped with the latest Coastguard Rescue Vehicles to enable officers to continue responding to emergencies across the Isle of Wight 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2 brand new Mitsubishi L200s, both kitted out with all the latest rescue equipment and technology, have been delivered to the Island teams this week. They replace ageing and less spacious vehicles in the fleet.
At Ventnor, their new L200 replaces the team’s secondary vehicle – a 2007 Nissan Navara (HF07 EOP). As mud rescue specialists, the South Wight team have received a variant of the standard Coastguard Rescue Vehicle (CRV) that enables them to stow their mud stretcher on the roof with an easy access cradle system.
The Ventnor team are retaining their primary Nissan Navara (HF57 HRJ) which is used for cliff rescues and general call outs.
The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) have already responded to 2 taskings with their new vehicle (HX69 FRC) – meeting a casualty vessel at Yarmouth Harbour and the rescue of an injured man at St Lawrence.
This latest investment comes ahead of iPads being rolled out to Coastguard Rescue Teams across the country to streamline processes and provide a greater amount of information into the hands of officers. In the future, drones are expected to be rolled out nationwide to assist with search and rescue missions.
Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team retain their 2009 Nissan Navara (HF09 BBX).
If you or someone else is in difficulty on the coast or at sea, or if you spot what you think may be unexploded ordnance, then dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Further safety information can be found at https://coastguardsafety.campaign.gov.uk/.
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what3words have divided the world into 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words, which means when you are in a remote area of the Isle of Wight you can get assistance much quicker without the need for local knowledge.
