Welcome to the North West Area Website

There are 400 Units nationwide with the North West Area being 1 of 6 Areas throughout UK. The Northwest area reaches from Carlisle in the North to Stafford in the South and Holyhead in the West to Buxton in the East – not forgetting the Isle of Man. The North West area contains 58 units ranging in size from from 10 to 100 cadets strong.
Cadet ages range from Juniors aged 10 -12, Sea Cadets aged 12 – 18 and Royal Marine Cadets aged 13 – 18.
There are a total of 2200 cadets in the North West area alone.
The Adult Volunteers are made up of Uniformed and Civilian volunteers, with 1400 in the North West Area.

NEAR MISS REPORT – ENTRAPMENT IN DINGHY

There has been an entrapment in a PICO, in which a cadet was caught on the boom by his buoyancy aid when the boat capsized. Cause of entrapment appears to have been the buoyancy aid becoming caught on the shackle on the boom which attaches the main sheet or outhaul. The PICO concerned was correctly rigged as designed.

Quick response from the Instructor prevented this becoming a serious incident.

It is good practice to tape all shackles with plastic electrical, self amalgamating or heat shrink tape to reduce snag hazards.

Ensure that the front zipped pocket on the buoyancy aid is always fully closed, include this in cadet and staff briefs. The pocket should not be used to carry bulky items, which increase the entrapment hazard and shorten the life of the BA. When this pocket becomes damaged or ripped the buoyancy aid is to be considered unserviceable and is not to be used.

The safetyboat must attend ALL capsizes for a head count. All safetyboat drivers and crews are to be familiar with Pages 32-33 of the current edition of G16 Safetyboat Handbook.

The cause of this entrapment should be briefed to staff, who should also be briefed to check that shackles and snag hazards on dinghies are taped, and that bulky items are not carried in buoyancy aid pockets.”

Please see the attached document for information regarding insurance claims.

• Insurance Information