Crawford’s global marine team comprises over 230 experts with deep experience across a wide range of disciplines. Here, Crawford Marine’s Crew Care team highlights the vital role that the UK Coastguard plays in many of the cases managed by Crawford.
The HM Coastguard helicopter service plays a vital role in maritime and coastal safety right across the United Kingdom. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the service provides rapid search and rescue (SAR) response to emergencies at sea, along the coastline, and occasionally inland when needed.
Helicopter operations are delivered on behalf of HM Coastguard by Bristow Helicopters, which supplies aircraft, pilots, and engineers under contract to the UK government. These helicopters are strategically based around the UK to ensure fast response times, including locations such as Southampton, Stornoway, and Plymouth.
The operational aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art navigation systems, night-vision capability, rescue winches, and medical equipment – allowing crews to operate in darkness, severe weather, and challenging sea conditions. Each crew typically includes two pilots, a winch operator, and a winch paramedic, enabling complex rescues to be conducted safely and efficiently.
Missions range from rescuing sick and injured seafarers to being involved in major maritime incidents such as the collision between M/V Solong and M/V Stena Immaculate in the North Sea in 2025.
The Coastguard helicopter service represents a critical component of the UK’s wider emergency response infrastructure, saving hundreds of lives each year while demonstrating exceptional skill, courage, and dedication in some of the most demanding environments imaginable.
Our Crew Care team regularly liaises with the Coastguard in cases where seafarers have accidents or are taken ill on-board vessels passing the UK on their way to international destinations. When these occur, SAR helicopters use certified landing sites around the UK, chosen for their proximity to NHS hospitals or major trauma centres.
Early advice is critical in the effective management of medical cases, allowing our team to liaise closely with any multi-agency responses – such as the UK Ambulance Service and NHS medical facilities – to deliver the best medical outcomes to seafarers in our care.
The Crew Care team truly values and respects the incredible work these agencies do. We know from first-hand experience how vital their help is, especially when we call on them ourselves when a seafarer needs emergency disembarkation from a vessel.
Medical cases often require navigating complex and sometimes conflicting demands relating to the patient’s condition, geography, business considerations, politics, religion, relatives, and insurance. So we offer a professional, timely and cost-effective consultancy service to assist clients in managing these complex challenges, including first aid training, repatriation, and drug testing.
Our goal is for Crawford’s Crew Care team to be the first point of contact for clients facing any medical case or inquiry by providing regular clinical updates and thoroughly considered case management services, delivered by our highly experienced in-house experts.
From cargo vessels and ports to logistics and crew welfare, the maritime industry operates in a high-stakes environment. Crawford’s Marine services help clients respond confidently and efficiently to loss events and medical emergencies, wherever they happen.
Find out more about the full Crawford Marine offering HERE.
