The "brain" of operations, twelve stories above the water - News Article Locations on Waymarking.com

In the La Coruña Maritime Rescue control tower, located twelve floors above the water, there are always two controllers on duty who day and night watch over the safety of the ships that cross the Galician coastline. Any warning signal at sea immediately reaches these offices where the wind blows strongly. "We are very high and when there is a storm you notice how everything moves", comment his employees, used to staying calm in situations of extreme risk. Supported by the latest technologies, they are in charge of activating the rescue teams and giving the first instructions. They explain what has happened and give you the exact situation. The most frequent thing in Galicia is that small boats go against the rocks because of the storms, that the fishing boats turn around and sink or that accidents occur at the foot of the coast, often with barnacles involved.

The head of Maritime Rescue in La Coruña is Jesús Iglesias, with twenty-three years of experience behind him. "We are always the first to arrive because our nuclear mission is to respond to maritime emergencies," he says. Keeping a helicopter in the air costs more than six thousand euros per hour, but Salvamento Marítimo never charges when there are people involved in the rescue. "A life is priceless, that's why we don't charge for these types of operations. It is charged when a boat has to be rescued or towed because goods do have a price, people do not, "says Iglesias. From this control center the first instructions for the pilots and captains of the ships that will travel to the place depart. «We make a first assessment. When they arrive at the emergency, they are the ones who decide why they maintain eye contact with what is happening. Therefore, even if you live moments of tension, you never call in the middle of an operation. It's the worst thing you can do, because people need all five senses and two more, ”says this tanned sailor. "We do what we can, but we are not omnipotent", he returns to describe the satisfaction felt when a rescued "face of fright turns into a smile."

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Type of publication: Newspaper When was the article reported?: 02/16/2016 Publication: ABC Article Url: [Web Link] Is Registration Required?: no How widespread was the article reported?: national News Category: Editorial

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