Rescuer shortage 'risking lives'

The report questioned staffing levels (Pic: John Dobbie)

Lives may have been lost around the UK coastline because of a shortage of coastguards, a committee of MPs says.

The Commons transport select committee branded staffing levels at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency "unacceptable".

More than 300 people died in 2002 - a 28.1% rise since 1998 - and accidents rose by 17.3% during the same period.

The MCA said staffing had not affected safety, but the MPs were "unconvinced". They highlighted the closure of three rescue co-ordination centres.

There had been no proper research into the closure of the centres at Pentland on the north coast of Scotland, Oban in western Scotland and Tyne Tees in north-east England, they said.

Public and Commercial Services Union MCA Group president Dave Clempson told BBC News he had raised the issue of understaffing with management "time and time again" - but they were "desperately trying to keep down costs".

It is unacceptable that month after month, nearly a third of all watches are operating at or below minimum levels Transport select committee

The transport select committee said the agency had been "entirely complacent" about understaffing and had "failed to conduct timely research" into the rise in deaths and accidents around the UK's coast.

But the agency denied it was complacent, understaffed or under-motivated.

John Astbury, of the MCA, said: "The commission says on the one hand these are highly professional, competent and motivated staff, then on the other hand says they are untrained.

"Well which is it?"

Rescue centres in Oban and Orkney were closed in September 2000 and then Tynemouth in 2001.

'No research'

The report said that one fatal accident in which a search-and-rescue helicopter went to the wrong location might have been caused by understaffing and inexperience.

A father and his two sons died after the boating accident on Loch Ryan, on the west coast of Scotland, in July 2003.

It was unacceptable to contemplate further closures, the report said.

Its policy proposals had been made "without proper analysis" and the MCA's chief executive Captain Steven Bligh had "serious problems to tackle", although the committee said it was "far from confident" Capt Bligh recognised these problems.

The report said a third of rescue and co-ordination centres were staffed at or below minimum levels, which it said was "unacceptable".

On the rise in fatalities, the committee said Capt Bligh "could give no convincing explanation for the increases".

Saving lives

Until Capt Bligh recognised the problems he faced, there was "no case" for considering an extension of the agency's remit into other areas, said the report.

The committee's chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody said: "The individuals who work at the MCA are dedicated to saving lives, both by watching our coasts and improving the standards of vessels. Their leaders need to focus on these tasks."

The Crewe and Nantwich Labour MP added that the agency's leaders had to be vigorous in ensuring that government policies take account of the needs of those who go to sea.

A transport department spokeswoman told BBC News Online the report raised issues "too important for any hasty reaction".

And the department would "respond in full" once it had given the report the "careful consideration" it needed.

The MCA coordinates rescue operations on behalf of the transport department - but most are actually performed by a separate voluntary body, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.