MILFORD HAVEN Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), one of Wales’ two specialist rescue coordination centres, is now operating on a state-of-the-art communications network designed to enhance the UK’s coastguard services.

The new network, part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) ambitious Radio Network Infrastructure Replacement Programme (RNIR), connects 163 remote radio sites and ensures that the Coastguard can continue to respond effectively to emergencies along the UK’s coastline.

The upgraded network, which utilises a combination of full-fibre and microwave technology, is intended to improve both the bandwidth and security of communications across the 11,000 miles of coastline managed by the Coastguard. The first installations of this network began in December 2020, with locations such as Bincleaves, Lee-on-the-Solent, Crystal Palace, Humber, Bridlington, and Brighton Marina among the initial sites to transition to the new system. Now, with the infrastructure stretching from the Shetland Islands to the Isles of Scilly, the project has reached a significant milestone.

Assistant Chief Coastguard Matthew Leat highlighted the importance of the new network, stating, “The national radio network is integral in supporting our mission of preventing the loss of life on the coast and at sea, enhancing our ability to respond to emergencies across the UK.”

The RNIR programme represents a significant investment by the MCA, with over £175 million allocated to the replacement of the legacy copper-based network, which is becoming increasingly outdated. The new technology brings considerable improvements, including increased security and bandwidth, which will now allow the Coastguard to integrate advanced search and rescue technologies that require a digital connection. These improvements are seen as crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of life-saving operations, where every second can be critical.

Damien Oliver, Commercial and Programmes Director for the MCA, emphasised the network’s role in safeguarding lives, saying, “This new national radio network is central in preventing the loss of life on the coast and at sea. The entire network, spanning 165 radio sites around 11,000 miles of UK coastline, maintains the Coastguards’ ability to receive and act upon distress alerts from shipping and talk to HM Coastguard’s helicopters and planes.”

Oliver noted the importance of the update, adding, “It is evident now more than ever that we provide a state-of-the-art radio network system that will allow our Coastguards to continue saving lives and provide reassurance that we are here to respond to any emergency, along the coast or at sea.”

The construction and maintenance of the new network are being handled by Telent Technology Services Ltd. Peter Moir, Managing Director of Network Services at Telent, expressed pride in the project, stating, “As a provider of critical digital infrastructure services, we were proud to have been selected by the MCA to provide the new full fibre network to HM Coastguard’s remote radio sites. Today is an important milestone and we will continue to work collaboratively with HM Coastguard to deliver the new network to support their lifesaving work.”

As the rollout of the new network continues over the next two years, the Coastguard, including teams at Milford Haven MRCC, will benefit from the enhanced capabilities, ensuring they remain at the forefront of maritime safety and rescue operations across the UK.