Fresh action over coastguard pay

The MCA said it had plans in place to respond to an emergency

Contingency plans have been put in place to provide emergency cover in Scotland during a strike by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) staff.

The agency said it would be able to respond to distress and 999 calls.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union at the country's five control centres were due to take part in the latest industrial action.

The 48-hour walkout this weekend is about pay. The previous strike was staged from 19 July.

On that occasion, calls to the Clyde and Forth coastguard stations were diverted to Belfast and Aberdeen.

Staff remained on duty at Aberdeen, Stornoway and Shetland, to respond to emergency distress calls.

DISPUTE FACT FILE Up to 700 members of UK staff have been participating in the industrial action 19 UK search and rescue co-ordination centres have been affected The five in Scotland are at Clyde, Forth, Aberdeen, Stornoway and Shetland

A MCA spokesman said: "As far as Scotland's case we expect to have pretty much all our stations operating at some point."

Agency staff across the UK have been involved in a national dispute over pay.

The RNLI has moved to clear up any confusion that the action involved its volunteers and said its crews remained available as normal.

Dan Holland, a volunteer crewman from Kessock Lifeboat in Inverness, said: "If you see anyone in trouble in the water or are in trouble yourself then do not delay in dialling 999 and asking for the coastguard.

"If you do go to the coast or venture to sea then we would advise you to make safety a priority.

"Always wear a lifejacket, make sure you are suitably prepared and experienced, carry the correct safety equipment and tell someone where you are going and when you will be back."