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Maritime Rescue cuts service, quadrupling the response time of the emergency helicopter

30 October 2019 - 09: 44

As of January of 2020, the emergency helicopter at sea, Helimer, which serves the Valencian Community and Murcia, will cease to have an immediate response to an emergency. This has been decided by the Salvage and Maritime Safety Company, a public business entity under the Ministry of Development and requested the change to the concessionary company, according to the entity's sources, "without arguing the reason for this cut that will only affect the Valencian Community of all the bases that exist for this purpose".

Since February 1994, the coasts of the Valencian Community have the service of one of the emergency helicopters at sea, assigned to Maritime Rescue, whose main task is the search and rescue of people in their area of ​​responsibility, which covers Vinaroz to Cartagena and up to 200 miles offshore. It is also assigned the fight against maritime pollution in our sea and coasts.

The reaction time is decisive before an emergency at sea and from 2006 the Helimer helicopter service of the Valencian Community attends any emergency the 24 hours of the day, 365 days a year, with a response less than 10 minutes, thanks to the fact that the Aircraft crew members perform face-to-face guards at the base located in the service area of ​​the Manises airport. From 2020, with this cut of the Ministry of Development, emergencies in the Valencian Community that require rescue and evacuation by helicopter must wait more than an hour to be attended when dispensing with the face guard, a very valuable time in a situation of these characteristics.

Last August's 14, three teenagers were trapped in Roca del Gigant ”, Benicassim. The force of the waves prevented them from reaching the coast, and even if they were helped from land or boat, they could only be rescued from the air. In 20 minutes they had the Helimer on top and were rescued. From the 2020, before a similar situation, they must wait fighting against the waves and the hypothermia more than one hour. This is just an example of the many situations that service professionals find almost daily. "The Helimer is the last hope in the sea when everything goes wrong. The guarantee that they will arrive on time saves lives. In the Valencian Community, the help of The angels of the sea will be delayed with this decision of Maritime Rescue ", say the workers.

"Our work often involves resorting to the rescue of people at extreme risk and in these circumstances, the minutes are crucial, vital, to safeguard the lives of people in a hurry". "We feel obliged to request the regional administration to intercede and mediate with the Maritime Rescue Society of the central government to defend and fight for the safety of its citizens". It is unique that Salvamento Marítimo receives the annual prize of the Spanish Association of Nautical Journalists (AEPN) today, October 30, the start day of the Valencia Boat Show, for its dedication and task in safety, fight against pollution and rescue in the Spanish coasts, paradoxically in Valencia where it has decided to cut the security and rescue of its citizens.

1 Comment
  1. Juan says:

    Illegal immigrants who come in boats have a higher priority than nationals, who pay their bailouts with their taxes
    We are cut in services, and they are extended.
    C´est la vie !!!
    Or not!! if you change it ...


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