Catalogue description Records of the Coastguard Agency

On 1 April 1994 HM Coastguard Service, formerly the responsibility of the Department of Transport, was renamed the Coastguard Agency and acquired executive agency status. It is responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of civil maritime search and rescue within the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Region and for discharging the United Kingdom government's responsibility for dealing with major spillages of oil and other hazardous substances from ships at sea.

The Agency is managed by a four member board comprising the Chief Executive, the Chief Coastguard, the Director of the Marine Pollution Control Unit and the Director of Administration. It has two operational divisions: HM Coastguard and the Marine Pollution Control Unit as well as an Administration Division.

HM Coastguard co-ordinates maritime search and rescue from its network of Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres, fifteen Maritime Rescue Sub Centres and from 92 sector bases around the coastline of the United Kingdom.

The Marine Pollution Control Unit provides the United Kingdom's response to oil and chemical pollution and meets the government's commitment under international agreements to provide a marine pollution response capability. The Unit was placed on a statutory basis by the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Pollution) Act 1994.

The Administration Division provides corporate services, including personnel, property management, finance, procurement, accountancy services, policy and business planning support. It also provides common services throughout the headquarters building which the Coastguard Agency shares with the Marine Safety Agency.

In April 1998 the Coastguard Agency merged with the Marine Safety Agency to form the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.