Coastguard rescue tug cover

An emergency towing tug (ETV) should be reinstated on the west coast to protect lives, says the Comhairle.

At present only one coastguard salvage tug covers the north of Scotland coastline.

The sole designated emergency vessel, MV Herakles - formerly named the MV Anglian Prince - is stationed in Orkney and is very rarely used for incidents off the Western Isles.

But its current funding runs out in seven weeks.

No commitment to continue the service was made by chancellor George Osborne.

The removal of the Stornoway tug in 2012 means that it could take many hours for emergency assistance to get to a vessel in distress on the west coast.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has arranged a meeting to discuss plans in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

Comhairle convener, Norman Macdonald, said: “I believe that the number of incidents over the past few years highlight the very serious risks around our coastal waters.

"It is absolutely essential that we have an additional ETV, based on the west coast, so that we have adequate safety measures in place to respond swiftly to incidents, to protect lives and minimize the risk of environmental damage.

"We remain very concerned, as do colleagues in neighbouring councils, about the current situation - the suggestion that the north based ETV could also be removed when the current contract expires in two months, is quite frankly incomprehensible.

"What we need is additional provision; not a reduction.

“I will reiterate our strong belief that the north based tug contract should be renewed and we will urgently seek a reinstatement of a west coast based ETV.”

Fears coastguard rescue tug cover could be axed

9 February 2016