News

22.09.14

Coast Guard Consultation Body

Friday September 16th the Coast Guard consultation body assembled for the third time this year under the chairmanship of the governor of West-Flanders. Future actions with regard to the implementation of the Marine Spatial Plan were discussed. Marine Spatial Planning is intended to result in a better planning of the use and the space within Belgian marine areas and should offer more legal security to the sea user (for a leaflet, click here).
Further on the agenda: the exercises to be held by several coast guard partners at sea in the near future and the measures to be taken for the salvage of the Baltic Ace wreck. The Baltic Ace was a car carrier which sunk after colliding with a container carrier in December 2012. Various working groups, such as windmill parks at sea and a general emergency and intervention plan for the North Sea, reported on the progress made.
22.09.14

Rescue exercise Nieuwpoort

Tuesday 9 September 2014, the governor of West-Flanders organized an exercice to test the procedure for saving drowning persons along the Belgian coast. The communication and participation between the different coast guard and other partners on land, at sea and in the air was tested.
05.09.14

Interventions Sea King July and August 2014

The 40 Squadron was kept busy during the summer holidays. They carried out 34 rescue operations in July and August. The Sea King has been used since 1976 in the Belgian army. Now there are four such helicopters still operational, which will in time be replaced by the NH90 NFH (marineversion).

More information on http://www.mil.be/nl/artikel/geen-vakantie-voor-de-sea-king (article in Dutch) or http://www.mil.be/fr/article/pas-de-vacances-pour-les-sea-king (article in French)
04.09.14

Vacancy FPS Mobility and Transport

Our coast guard partner FPS (Federal Public Service) Mobility and Transport is recruiting shipping inspectors. Applications should be received by September 15th 2014.
More information on www.selor.be
02.09.14

Can I pick mussels straight off the beach or in the port?

No, in Belgium this is forbidden by law. Moreover, it is a really bad idea according to research carried out by ILVO, the Institute for Agriculture and Fishery Research. This research shows that eating 'wild' mussels can cause stomach - and bowel infections since they contain a high amount of microbes that can make you ill. Mussels picked off the beach or quay walls also contain more chemical substances than those you buy in the supermarket.

More information (in Dutch): http://www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be/NL/Pers-en-media/Alle-media/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1815/Wild-geplukte-mosselen-op-Belgische-strandhoofden-en-kaaimuren-voldoen-niet-volledig-aan-voedingsnormen
20.08.14

Why can't I feed seagulls?

It is not necessary to share your pack of french fries or your portion of fresh shrimp with seagulls. They do have food enough. If they are constantly fed by humans, they will no longer go find food themselves. They will tear garbage bags open which causes the street to be full of litter and which attracts vermin. Rooftops, cars and sidewalks are covered in seagull excrement. Moreover, seagulls are known to come and steal food out of people's hands, which can prove dangerous, especially for small children.

Did you know that is forbidden by law to feed seagulls? If you go ahead and do it anyway, you risk a heavy fine in most coastal municipalities along the Belgian coast?
18.08.14

Vacancies Vloot (Fleet)

Our coast guard partner Vloot is recruiting an assistant to the SHEQ-manager and a technical project assistant. Applications should be received by August 31st 2014.

More information on www.jobpunt.be
30.07.14

Vacancy pilot

Our coast guard partner Pilotage is looking for pilots. More information on www.jobpunt.be. Apply before September 14th 2014.
17.07.14

The weather at sea

Planning a day at the seaside and you want to know what the weather forecast is? Surf to www.kustweerbericht.be or check the coastal weather forecast on your smartphone.

The agency for Maritime Services and Coast (MDK) makes a special weather forecast for the coast. It is updated four times a day and split between the westcoast (De Panne to Oostende) and the eastcoast (Oostende to Knokke-Heist). You can also see webcam images of several coastal municipalities.
16.07.14

Meeting salvage Baltic Ace wreck

July 14th, the governor of West-Flanders province chaired a meeting with regard to the salvaging of the wreck of the Baltic Ace. The Baltic Ace, a car carrier, collided with the container carrier Corvus J on the night of December 5th, 2012 and sank. This happened 65 kilometres off the Dutch coast, very close to Belgian waters.

Because the wreck is located in the centre of one of the busiest international shipping routes,it has been decided to salvage it completely. The Dutch ministry responsible for shipping traffic, started salvage works in May 2014.

At this meeting, the Dutch ministry provided the governor and the coast guard partners with a progress report on the ongoing works and a procedure was established on how to pass on information to the Belgian coast guard partners. The salvage works are expected to be finalized by the end of 2015.

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