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National 063/01
25 January 2001

SCOTTISH STATION CLOSURES – COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL

A Commons Transport Sub-Committee has been told that the new computerised radio communications system is now "up and running" at Stornoway, Shetland, Aberdeen and Clyde rescue centres.


Mr. Storey

 Maurice Storey, Coastguard chief executive claimed that the closure of Oban and Pentland stations, following the re-equipping of four others, has been completed successfully. He also claimed, "Careful planning has allowed us to redeploy our resources sensitively."

However, sub-committee chairwoman Gwyneth Dunwoody challenged Mr. Storey’s evidence.

She said she was astonished at his claim that everything was working perfectly and said she would be consulting in order to confirm that this was indeed the case.

Figures published on 19 January 2001 by the agency show an increase in workload at Stornoway and Shetland stations last year – before the closures. They will bear the brunt of coping with the transferred workload from Oban and Pentland.

Stornoway dealt with 243 incidents compared with 222 the previous year and Shetland dealt with 152, up from 137, assisting in the rescue of 66 people compared with 44 the year before. Also lives lost in the Scottish region increased from 23% approx in 1999 to just over 27% in 2000 as a percentage of the national figures.

Meanwhile, Scrabster Harbour Trust has called for the Pentland Firth to be covered by a Coastguard tug all year round to deal with incidents in its dangerous waters.

At present one is stationed in the area only for the winter months.

Is everything working perfectly? Let Coastguard News have your opinion.

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