Closure of the Fife Ness coastguard station is not yet certain but the status quo is “simply impossible,” Maritime and Coastguard Agency chief Sir Alan Massey has told The Courier during an exclusive interview.
The fact that staff have dealt with an incredible 1400 incidents over the last three years may not be enough to save the site ahead of a major restructuring exercise.
Sir Alan said he appreciated the “excellent” work done by staff and insisted that, should the facility be closed, the 14 members of staff would be offered redeployment opportunities.
Fife Ness patrols some 344 miles of rugged coastline. Staff regularly co-ordinate dramatic rescue bids and the potential loss of “local knowledge” is something that worries many people.
However, Sir Alan insisted changes currently open to consultation would be all about making best use of the wealth of knowledge offered by coastguard staff throughout Scotland.
“No final decisions have yet been taken but no change is simply not an option,” he said.
“It is impossible for me to judge where we may end up but we need a properly integrated network of coastguard stations in Scotland. Currently there are 18 and we simply do not need that many for the safe co-ordination of search and rescue operations.”
The coalition government wants to cut the number of UK coastguard stations from 18 to eight, leaving only one full-time base north of the border at Aberdeen. A second base, in either Stornoway or Shetland, would only be manned in daylight hours.
Sir Alan insists that such dramatic cutbacks will not be to the detriment of the service currently offered by dedicated and experienced staff.
“A more robust and improved service will result from these changes,” he claimed.
“We will make better use of our skilled workforce.
“Through no fault of their own, staff currently often spend long periods on watch with no search and rescue incidents to deal with. As a result there is a danger their skills could erode and that is to nobody’s benefit.”
Sir Alan said the aim is to retain as many experienced coastguard staff as possible, adding, “We take local knowledge very seriously
“In our centralised stations we will still ensure that people have knowledge of the areas they are responsible for but they will be backed up by better systems.”
Regardless of the outcome of the ongoing consultation exercise, voluntary redundancy packages will only be implemented as a last resort.
“If Fife Ness were to close, staff would be given the chance to apply for other jobs within the coastguard service,” Sir Alan insisted.
“However, I do stress that this is not a done deal. What we have put on the table is the best idea we have to move into the future.”
Sir Alan added that the consultation period which had been due to close next week had been extended by six weeks until May 5.
When The Courier pointed out that the Scottish parliamentary elections will be held on that day, Sir Alan said it was merely a coincidence.
“The extension will allow people who need more time to put forward detailed contributions.”
The coastguard chief said he was “proud” of the work done at Fife Ness.
“The staff here are understandably very concerned about the future of their station,” Sir Alan continued.
“They want clarity about the station’s future and about what the future offers them within the coastguard service but are being very professional about things.
“I am immensely proud of the work they are doing.”Meanwhile MPs have rejected a call for the control of the coastguard service in Scotland to be transferred to Holyrood.The proposals were put forward by the SNP during detailed discussions on the Scotland Bill in the Commons.
Angus MacNeil said devolution of power over coastguards would lift the threat of closure from Scottish stations but MPs voted to reject the nationalist plans by 480 to nine.