Operations Room
 The operations room at Forth MRCC covers the whole top of the building.
The equipment in the ops area is continually being upgraded and improved upon with new and additional equipment being added.
The basic systems used in the operations room is four desks, each with two computer screens. One screen holds the command and control system which allows the operator to use telephone, fax, pager, radio, or GD92 (Internal MCA communications system). The second terminal has the systems information, this is the main system for storing our information, whether it is incident information, day to day messages or any other information. There are also various other databases that we can access to get any additional information that we may require. A mapping system allows us to identify the area that an incident is taking place, also to see the resources that are closest to the incident location. On the communications system it allows us to see the address, telephone/mobile number the call is being made from. This in itself allows us to immediately remove any possible hoax calls if they are well inland.
As we mentioned previously our job is continually changing, one of the latest items installed in the operations room is the Automatic Identification System, a visual mapping system that allows us to track any large Merchant vessels that are passing through Forth Districts. The information that is received on this system allows us to see at a glance any vessels that may be able to assist us or see the type of vessel. This information can be called upon at a later time to verify incidents details.
There are 22 members of staff which breaks down to 4 Watches, each consisting of a Watch Manager, two Watch Officers and 2 Watch Assistants. The remaining staff are the Station Manager (RCCM) Mr Davy Dick and his administration secretary.
0  The RCCM deals with the day to day running of the station, working closely with his colleagues in Aberdeen, however during any incident working his additional expertise and guidance can be called upon.
The types of incidents that Forth MRCC deal with can range from Cliff incidents to large vessels in difficulty. A Coastguard Watch Officer has to deal with any possible type of incident and therefore he has to be able to call upon a lot expertise from a wide range or areas.
Training to be a Coastguard Officer means a lot of hard work, the initial training is conducted over a year with examinations at the end of it to qualify. Failure means a resit on the relevant areas, a second failure means termination of their employment.
Technology in MCA means that the work of the Coastguard Officer is continually changing, a Coastguard Officer has to continually renew his knowledge and this is done by attending to the Coastguard school at Christchurch in England. Any qualifications have to be renewed on a constant basis, this is normally over a 5 year period.
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