Deal agreed in coastguard dispute

The Fishguard coastguard team was the first to accept the offer

Volunteer coastguards have reached an interim agreement with officials after a dispute over insurance cover.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it was "pleased" agreement had been reached on a process to compensate for loss of earnings from injury.

The dispute started in Fishguard, west Wales, and spread to other parts of the UK, including south-west Scotland.

Volunteers in Fishguard were said to be "satisfied" with arrangements and would "turn their pagers back on".

Mark James, a member of Mumbles coastguard in Swansea, said: "We got what we wanted - insurance cover should we become long-term disabled by an incident at work."

He said the Fishguard team accepted the agreement and "it's down to each and every team whether they follow suit".

I hope the coastguard rescue service is now able to resume its normal professional service in all areas Peter Dymond, chief coastguard MCA

Coastguards around Wales took part in two days of action after talks to resolve the dispute over insurance cover ended without resolution.

Teams across south and west Wales refused to answer calls. Parts of Scotland and south-west England were also affected.

The MCA said it had offered to press ahead with arrangements for establishing a working group to consider the more detailed concerns.

'Full and frank'

Chief coastguard Peter Dymond said: "I hope the coastguard rescue service is now able to resume its normal professional service in all areas where service was withdrawn, providing search and rescue response to those in distress or danger along our coastline.

"I am also particularly keen to see a long-term resolution to this issue."

Meanwhile, Solway coastguards said they would welcome the interim agreement if it was confirmed.

Units at Isle of Whithorn, Portling and Kirkcudbright had joined the action.

Shaun McGuire, who leads the Isle of Whithorn team, said it was awaiting confirmation of the deal.

"I would have to speak to my team and the other teams involved," he said.

"As long as there is an agreement in place and we know that if any of our guys are hurt they will be compensated that is all we are asking for."

Five hours of "full and frank" talks were held between the MCA and coastguard members in Fishguard on Thursday.

Proud history

Although progress was made, rescue workers said they had not received the assurances they need to return to duty.

The coastguard officers are demanding that the MCA puts a more adequate insurance cover in place for them, to protect their livelihoods should any of them be permanently injured, or killed, while on duty.

The row started over the case of Fishguard volunteer Brian MacFarlane, who claims he was not given fair compensation when he lost his main job after being injured in a rescue four years ago.

"The coastguard rescue service in the UK has got a long and proud history?some teams can trace their family service back six generations," said Mr MacFarlane, welcoming the agreement.

"We now have from the chief executive ( of the MCA) that the previous arrangements were not fit for purpose. Everything we've done has now been justified in or minds."