BLUEMOMENT

Having accumulated an ammo-box full of TEPs I did the right thing and phoned Clyde Coastguard to make arrangements for a drop-off at Girvan.
No problem, said the duty officer at Greenock; just turn up between 09:00 and 13:00 "any Sunday". This is a plus, because I was told when the new scheme was introduced last April that the coastguard stations would only accept TEP's during normal office hours.
So, I was in Girvan for the opening of the office at 09:00 and handed over my box.
The reason I am posting this is to warn peeps that I was not told by Greenock that this arrangement for Sunday morning acceptance ends at the end of this month for the winter. From 1st September TEPs will not be accepted unless by prior arrangement. I got confirmation from Greenock this morning.
I am posting this here as details may vary in other parts of the UK.

I "inherited" a bunch of flares when I bought Rowana 5 years ago. They were out of date then, and I'm sure some had been purchased my Noah!

Anyway, phoned Aberdeen coastguard and was asked a series of questions - Name, Address, Telephone number, Boat name, where berthed, type of TEP, ie flare, rocket, smoke, number of each, date of expiry Etc., Etc. The only thing they didn't ask was my collar size!

They are collected at Cruden Bay on the 3rd Monday of the month between 1630 & 1930hrs, and I was asked what time would I be arriving.

Anyway, on the appointed day & time I turned up expecting some more questions, or at least verifying that I had indeed booked a time, and that my tally was as stated. Not a bit of it.

"Just put them on that bench there, and I'll sort them out later".

Wasn't in the place more that 2 minutes, and while I was there, another 2 cars turned up with some more. Same response- "Just leave them in that pile there"

Very easy to dispose of, but I'm wondering why I was given the 3rd degree when I phoned. Someone just form-filling to justify their existance, I suppose.

I would suggest just turning up at Cruden Bay on the 3rd Monday of the month between 1630 & 1930 if you're in this area.

Gordonmc wrote:Having accumulated an ammo-box full of TEPs I did the right thing and phoned Clyde Coastguard to make arrangements for a drop-off at Girvan.
No problem, said the duty officer at Greenock; just turn up between 09:00 and 13:00 "any Sunday". This is a plus, because I was told when the new scheme was introduced last April that the coastguard stations would only accept TEP's during normal office hours.
So, I was in Girvan for the opening of the office at 09:00 and handed over my box.
The reason I am posting this is to warn peeps that I was not told by Greenock that this arrangement for Sunday morning acceptance ends at the end of this month for the winter. From 1st September TEPs will not be accepted unless by prior arrangement. I got confirmation from Greenock this morning.
I am posting this here as details may vary in other parts of the UK.

TFT. I have some TEP's in the car at the moment (this can't be a good thing surely?) which I was planning to take to Girvan a week on Thursday when I'll be down that way visiting the auld yins.

Obviously I'll 'phone ahead myself to ensure acceptance but do I understand from your post that they only take old flares on Sundays?

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Obviously I'll 'phone ahead myself to ensure acceptance but do I understand from your post that they only take old flares on Sundays?[/quote]
I got the impression from Clyde CG that Sunday morning is the only option, but I did not press the issue. The CG station must be manned at other times (?).
Having read Rowana's post, I was not asked any questions by either Clyde or the helpful CG in Girvan. He examined each of the flares which were a mix of US, French and UK makes, but I gathered he was only interested in their condition.

If I crack a tired old joke about flares expiring in 1973, would that be classified as thread drift?