Coastguard tug petition

A petition seeking a coastguard tug to be based in the Western Isles has been handed into the Prime Minister.

The emergency vessel was removed in 2012 as a cost cutting exercise by the UK Government.

Orkney-based MV Herakles is meant to cover the whole of the north of Scotland but is rarely seen on the west coast.

In the wake of the grounding of the Transocean Winner oil rig off Lewis, some 1,500 people sign a petition organised by SNP councillors Rae Mackenzie and Gordon Murray.

However, the government has already concluded that a second tug is not warranted.

MP Angus MacNeil who presented the petition to 10 Downing Street said: "Removal of the emergency towing vessel (ETZ) has left the west coast vulnerable and the presence of a tug provides an insurance policy for an unusual but very possible event.

"It was the UK Government’s decision to cut the ETV on the west coast and I hope that they will now listen to representations and take action to remedy this unfortunate situation.

“Reinstating an ETV on the west coast, at a relatively small cost to the UK Government, will help to protect lives at sea and also safeguard our precious environment.”

Petition calling for west coast coastguard tug is handed in

7 September 2016