 |
National 060/01
22 January 2001
IMPROVED SEARCH AND RESCUE ON FOR RIVER THAMES
Deputy Prime
Minister John Prescott accompanied by Shipping Minister Keith Hill,
unveiled plans on 22 January 2001 to step up search and rescue (SAR)
cover on the River Thames.
The increased cover will guarantee that the emergency services are able
to respond quickly and efficiently to life-threatening accidents on the
River.
|
John Prescott
|
Three lifeboat
stations - likely to be at Gravesend, Tower Pier, and Chiswick - are to be
established on the Thames by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
(RNLI). They will provide a rescue service within 15 minutes to any point
on the tidal Thames between Canvey Island and Teddington. HM Coastguard
(part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, MCA) will co-ordinate search
and rescue on the River from a Port of London Authority (PLA) operations
room at the Thames Barrier.
Unveiling the plans at Westminster Pier, Mr Prescott said, "Safety on
the Thames has been a major concern of mine ever since the Marchioness
disaster claimed 51 lives more than 11 years ago. When Lord Justice Clarke
recommended in his report on Thames Safety just over a year ago that the
provision of search and rescue services on the Thames should be examined,
I readily agreed to fund the studies.
"Today's announcement follows from those studies and I'm delighted
that the RNLI has agreed to provide lifeboat cover for the whole of the
tidal part of the Thames, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. It
represents a major step forward for safety on the River and I am grateful
to the RNLI for this substantial contribution.
"The new arrangements will be a partnership between the RNLI, HM
Coastguard and the PLA which will dovetail with the other emergency
services and I admire the dedication and professionalism of all those who
will help to make the Thames a safer river." |
|
|
