A high ranking figure at the RNLI has stressed the charity would continue to concentrate on saving lives at sea, despite the coalition government announcing this week it was to axe a number of coastguard stations including one in Fife.
It is not clear what impact the closure of the Forth coastguard station in Fife Ness will have on RNLI local operations but Paul Boissier, chief executive of the RNLI, refused to comment directly on the changes saying they were a matter for political debate.
The RNLI has a lifeboat station in Broughty Ferry but it is not anticipated rescues launched from the shoreline will be put at risk by the restructuring, as Aberdeen will retain its 24-hour coastguard station.
“Regardless of how the coordination of search and rescue is structured in the future, what matters to us is that it must allow the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards, and any other rescue services, to respond at least as fast and effectively as we do at present,” he said.
“In addition, there must be no negative impact on the cost to our charity.
“We will be working closely with the MCA to ensure that this is the case.”
The RNLI depends wholly on the goodwill of the public to fund lifesaving activities around the coast.
The organisation says it is vitally important it continues to be seen by the public as non-judgmental and non-partisan.
As a result it has said it will not be involved in any political discussions about the future of coastguard stations.
Fife Ness covers hundreds of miles of coastline from Montrose to the north of England with 14 staff employed.
As part of the government’s attempts to streamline the rescue service it, along with Clyde station on the west coast, will be axed.
Under the new plans Forth, Clyde, Swansea, Portland, Liverpool, Yarmouth, Brixham and Thames will shut over the next three years.