HMS Tyne, UK Coast Guard Conduct Winching Exercise

A coastguard helicopter hovers over patrol ship HMS Tyne during a winching exercise.

The River-class offshore patrol vessel received a call from the helicopter – call sign CG163 – as the ship was training off the south coast of the UK.

The aircraft requested permission to conduct a high-line transfer, which involved lowering a crewman from the helicopter onto Tyne’s cargo deck.

Once safely aboard, the helicopter winchman then lowered a rescue harness to simulate the recovery of a casualty from a ship.

Tyne’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Charlie Barrow, said: “The flexibility of the River-class OPVs makes us ideal for supporting training such as this and it is great to be able to work with Her Majesty’s Coastguard while we carry out our fishery protection operations.” 

With the harness and crewman recovered CG163 headed off with a wave to continue training while Tyne continued her Marine Enforcement and Maritime Security patrol – one of three River Class offshore patrol vessels operating in UK waters.