The sole coastguard emergency tug covering the north of Scotland coastline may be axed in five months.
The MV Herakles is stationed in Orkney and is very rarely used for incidents off the Western Isles.
It means the Hebrides are without an emergency towing tug which could come to the aid of a stricken ship.
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.
In any case, the Herakles -
The UK Government has yet to make a commitment to retain her.
At a meeting with UK Transport Minister, Robert Goodwill, SNP MPs stressed their serious concerns about the safety gap.
Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil said: "It is vital for our maritime insurance policy around our coasts that we have a ETV or tug on the west coast.
“This is a transport related priority for the Highlands and Islands SNP MPs and it is unfortunate that this is a power not in Scottish hands, but with the Westminster Tories."
A UK government spokesperson said the tug issue was subject to a forthcoming spending review.
Fears last coastguard tug cover may be axed
22 October 2015