WHITEHAVEN Coastguard has taken part in a continuing professional development day.
The team took part in a rope rescue exercise this week.
A spokesperson said: "With today's planned CPD day of helicopter familiarisation at Prestwick Airport postponed until a later date, our fallback plan was initiated which seen us instead undertake Rope Rescue.
"This gave us the opportunity to ensure rotation of the team through various roles and refresh on just some aspects of rope work, whilst also starting the advancement of some of the team Rope Operators towards Rope Technicians.
"This journey from Operator to Technician will see the aspiring Technicians learning additional equipment and techniques over several months, in both their own study time and team time.
"All the while, whilst maintaining their current levels of competence. This will ensure we maintain the ability to safely rescue people or domestic animals in need of assistance on the cliffs or coastal structures/vessels when we are called upon.
"Around the UK, HM Coastguard Rescue Officers whose teams deploy a Rope Rescue capability, will train and have the option to progress through three levels of competence over their time in service; Awareness, Operator, and then ultimately Technician.
"Today's training was overseen by one of our local full time Senior Coastal Operation Officers (SCOO), who is both a Rope Instructor and Assessor, with members of the team sharing their own learning experiences with one and other throughout each training evolution.
"As darkness fell, all equipment was accounted for and the team returned to station for a well earned break, and to commence wash-down, post-user checks and repacking of equipment ready for service.
"HM Coastguard are responsible for the initiation and coordination of civil maritime search and rescue within the UK search and rescue region.
"This includes the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources to respond to persons either in distress at sea, or to persons at risk of injury or death on the cliffs or shoreline of the UK as well as some inland waters (for Cumbria this includes Derwentwater, Ullswater, Coniston and Windermere)."
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