Aberdeen Coastguard Team

In an Emergency Dial 999 or 112 & ask for the Coastguard

Find out what the Aberdeen coastguard rescue team actually does.

A brief summary of how teams are organized

Coastguards are formed into Coastguard Rescue Teams (CRTs), which are situated at strategic locations around the coast, and are equipped to deal with incidents and rescues appropriate to the risks associated with local coastal terrain and shoreline activities.

Teams with cliffs are trained in Rope Rescue, teams with mud may be formed into mud rescue teams and a select number of teams around the coast are trained to rescue people from moving water are formed into swift water rescue teams. Teams may have a number of capabilities such as mud and cliff training in addition to the normal search capability.

Each CRT has an initial response capability for investigation, surveillance and reporting purposes (to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and in some locations where there exists a requirement for an initial response only, then small CRTs known as Immediate Response Teams have been established for this purpose.

Below is a list of tasks we may be asked to perform

  • Rescue of persons close inshore and in tidal waters.
  • Assisting with persons threatening to jump from bridges
  • Searching for missing persons, ordinance, chemicals, etc reported by members of the public. (All terrain types)
  • Dealing with any of the above once found. (i.e. rendering first aid, cordon off area, etc.)
  • Guiding other rescue resources onto a casualty’s position. (i.e. burning vessel offshore.)
  • Manning of helicopter landing site at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for medical emergencies.
  • Setting up and manning of helicopter emergency landing sites.
  • Advising the public on dangers they may come across on or near the coast.
  • Provide communications links for other services.
  • Assisting other services to complete their task. (Ambulance/Police)
  • Any other tasks we are asked to complete. (The standard catch all)
  • Drink tea and coffee.
  • And last but not least eat chomp bars!

Any of the above tasks may be undertaken at any time of the day or night, in all weather conditions.