The government has plans to close more than half the existing Coastguard rescue coordination centres and to withdraw the emergency towing vessels (ETVs) and Marine Incident Response Group (MIRG) fire-fighting provision.

The government should stop gambling with safety at sea and must drop its plans for potentially disastrous cuts in nautical emergency services, the maritime professionals’ union Nautilus International has warned.

The union represents almost 23,000 seafarers and other staff working in the maritime industry.  It has backed the findings of the House of Commons transport committee inquiry into the controversial proposals to close more than half the existing Coastguard rescue coordination centres and to withdraw the emergency towing vessels (ETVs) and Marine Incident Response Group (MIRG) fire-fighting provision.

“The report confirms our assertions that these proposals are dicing with danger, being driven by a cost-cutting agenda that fails to reflect the reality of risk around the UK coast,” said Nautilus General Secretary Mark Dickinson. “The entire safety net for shipping is in danger, with the Coastguard, ETV and MIRG cuts combining with the loss of the Nimrod maritime surveillance aircraft and the uncertainties over search and rescue helicopter provision presenting an erosion of cover that could have potentially catastrophic effects,” he added. “Ministers must think again.”

Nautilus gave written and oral evidence to the transport committee inquiry. The resulting report criticises the ‘seriously flawed’ proposals for Coastguard station closures and condemns the move to withdraw funding for ETVs and MIRG.

Some readers may wonder what this has to do with removals.  Very little, of course, if you are moving within the UK but as an island race all our export traffic travels by sea at some time (Channel tunnel excepted). Much of the work of these maritime organisations goes unseen and unappreciated by the majority.  However, their professionalism and expertise makes a vitally important contribution to maintaining safety around our shores and, therefore, the reliability of export services.  In the opinion of The Mover, we meddle with them at our peril.