Training on normalcy bias

HMCG recognises the importance of specific training and retraining on small boats for its staff. Training was introduced in the summer of 2021 in recognition of the increasing numbers of crossings, and has been updated, iterated and strengthened since its introduction. HMCG is committed to continue to regularly review and update all contents to ensure training remains relevant and fit for purpose. Key training for operational roles includes courses for new Maritime Operations Officers (MOO) and Senior Maritime Operations Officers (SMOO), which both include small boat specific training and include operational exercises for small boat incident response. These courses were most recently reviewed in 2025. Feedback from attendees is also captured and the courses are reviewed and adapted accordingly to ensure the training is relevant and clear to maritime operations officers – for example, on the information gathering process for small boat incidents. Changes to training are also made as required when updates are made to HMCG’s operational procedures. Continued Professional Development training on small boats is also conducted (see table below). The efficacy of training is ensured through regular operation standards and performance reviews. If these reviews highlight actions or conduct that is not consistent with procedure, learnings are shared and training is updated. This ensures that training and guidance is up to date, under constant review and continuously developed. The table below outlines small boat specific training introduced since 2021:

The Department for Transport published its interim response to the Cranston Inquiry in July 2026, which included updates against this recommendation. This update noted that many of the recommendations - including this one - have been marked as complete but are necessarily based on an on-going approach, rather than having a single end point. The Department (DfT), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), and His Majesty’s Coastguard (HMCG) are committed to on-going learning and improvement, and will regularly review processes and practices, learning from best practice, to ensure that they are fit to meet the evolving challenges of maritime search and rescue (SAR). Due to the operational and ongoing nature of these recommendations, the MCA has established an internal process of monitoring, verifying and reporting against recommendations that are its responsibility, noting that many recommendations require an on-going approach rather than reaching a single, fixed point.