Guidance and regulation

A list of the Coastguard Rescue Service areas across the UK and the volunteer stations in each of them.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 22 February 2024

• Coastguard Rescue Service areas and stations in the UK

  Area 1: Shetland and Orkney Islands Baltasound Hillswick Hoy Kirkwall…

Addresses and phone numbers for the HM Coastguard centres. Do not use these details in an emergency, instead call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 30 August 2023

Details on how to dispose of your unwanted distress flares.

• From: Department for Transport and 1 others
• Updated: 1 January 2023

Strategic overview and organisation of search and rescue in UK and Northern Ireland.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 19 December 2023

Information on how businesses can offer a flare disposal service.

• From: Department for Transport and 1 others
• Updated: 1 January 2023

For use by ships, aircraft of persons in distress when communicating with rescue units.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 23 November 2021

International index of search and rescue (SAR) data providers for passengers ships.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 13 March 2024

Details of the offshore search and rescue courses for the energy industries, provided by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 15 December 2023

This notice provides details of the search and rescue (SAR) co-operation plan requirements under the merchant shipping (safety of navigation) regulations 2002.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 24 October 2018

National statistics designation of search and rescue helicopter statistics publications.

• From: Department for Transport
• Updated: 11 December 2019

Information on the solution and transition timeline for the future of aviation within HM Coastguard, the UKSAR2G programme.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 22 March 2024

Guide to search and rescue helicopter statistics, source documents, accompanying notes, definitions and technical documents.

• From: Department for Transport and 1 others
• Updated: 22 June 2022

Document containing questions from industry and answered by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 5 April 2024

Post holders given access to search and rescue helicopter statistics up to 24 hours prior to release.

• From: Department for Transport
• Updated: 20 June 2023