Reinstating a coastguard emergency vessel at Stornoway has been ruled out.
No emergency vessel will be based in the Minches, say the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Prospect of West coast coastguard tug is ruled out
6 September 2016
Calls for a second tug were renewed following the grounding of the Transocean Winner oil rig in Lewis last month.
But the MCA said a consultation and independent review shows there is no need for an additional tug.
The coastguard tug in Stornoway was removed in 2011 under Westminster cost cutting.
The sole designated emergency vessel, MV Herakles -
However, it may now patrol Hebridean waters during severe weather.
A MCA spokesperson said: "We consulted with a wide range of Scottish stakeholders during the early part of this year and commissioned an independent report to establish the emergency towing vessel (ETV) requirement off north and north west Scotland.
"The case for providing two ETVs rather than one was considered during discussions.
"The operational experience of the past five years has demonstrated that a single ETV has been sufficient to meet the needs for emergency towage.
"Given this evidence, it has been decided that a second ETV, delivered at taxpayer expense, is not warranted.
"The MCA will monitor the prevailing conditions and when appropriate will consider moving the ETV to a position within its overall operating area where the potential for increased risk has been identified.
"The new ETV contract is likely to include a patrolling function which should see visits to all parts of the ETV operating area having due regard to weather forecasts and vessel traffic service requirements."
MSP Alasdair Allan said the announcement was "deeply disappointing."
Mr Allan said: "If the incident recently, with the oil rig going aground in Lewis, does not illustrate to the UK government the dangers of not having any emergency towing vessel available on the west coast, I don’t know what will.
He added: "However inexplicable, it seems they are content with the idea that one vessel can answer incidents anywhere on Scotland’s vast coastline. This matter will not rest.".