Sea Safety Fears

It's claimed the Coastguard service is unfit for the 21st century.

Forth and Clyde Coastguard stations recently closed and services were re-directed to Aberdeen. According to Coastguard SOS, the hub ran 97% understaffed during the summer months.

There are calls for control of the service to be devolved to Holyrood.

A spokesman for Coastguard SOS said:

"The Maritime & Coastguard Agency have lost control of the closure programme and lives are being put at risk because of station closures, chronic staff shortages, communication failures and a hemorrhaging of experienced officers". 

"The UK Government must stop the closure plan immediately and order a full independent inquiry to be carried out in order (but not limited) to examine the whole “future Coastguard” plan. Identify those responsible; assess the risks that now exist as a result of the closure of MRCC's and assess the long term damage that has been caused".

"Emergency measures must be put in place immediately to ensure stability returns to the service". 

"Re-assessment of the strategic location of the remaining stations throughout the UK should take place and each station should be joined in order that that a continuous communications link is formed and used to create the resilience that no longer exists".

"Following any inquiry those responsible for making decisions leading to the present unacceptable risks should face appropriate disciplinary action. If necessary responsibility for the service should be stripped from the MCA and control given to carefully appointed officers of HM Coastguard without outside influence to run under direct control of the UK Government not via a Government agency. This will save the budget cuts that this whole exercise was put into practice for". 

"If the UK Government is not prepared to stop the closure plan, the devolved Governments of Scotland and Wales should be given the opportunity to enter into discussions with a view to taking over localised responsibilities of HM Coastguard in the devolved countries. This would mean a division of SAR assets, however clear responsibilities should be defined and agreed upon in order to safeguard safety on land and sea".     

"The Maritime & Coastguard Agency and Department for Transport promised a Coastguard service "fit for the 21st century". They have failed to deliver this and instead HM Coastguard is in crisis". 

"The state of the service should not be underestimated and action must be taken immediately to correct the situation".