HM Coastguard officers move into new operations base in Inverness

Coastguard officers in Inverness are celebrating a move to a new purpose-built base.

After almost 18 years at Inverness Harbour, the Inverness Coastguard Rescue Team and full-time officers are settling into new premises in Walker Place.

It will enable rope rescue indoor training year round while maintaining operational capability through the harsh Highland winters will no longer mean standing in the wind and rain.

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HM Coastguard Highland covers an area from Applecross in the west around the north coast to Nairn in the east.

It recently launched a recruitment drive for volunteers in communities across the region.

Divisional commander Matt Mackay said the purpose-built facility in Inverness would future-proof the service’s capability.

“Our new Inverness coastguard station that will house both Inverness coastguard rescue team, and our full time officers is an exciting facility,” he said.

“This will allow us to continue to deliver an effective search and rescue capability across the Highland area, whilst enhancing our ability to deliver more technical training to our dedicated coastguard rescue officers across a wider area”

Senior coastal operations officer Martin Hier said it marked the end of two months of hard work for the “fantastic” builders and many more months planning for the estates team.

“An exciting time for the Highland Coastguards and Coastguards from around the U.K. now can begin,” he said.

“The new coastal operations base in Inverness will provide volunteers not only from the Highlands with a purpose-built training area but also full time officers from around the coast.

“We will be able to offer practical training including rope rescue indoor training year round, maintaining operational capability through the harsh Highland winters will no longer mean standing in the wind and rain!

“I am very excited to settle in and begin delivering courses to our dedicated volunteers”

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