Govt takes first steps to resolve SAR replacement issue 

RYA pleased that Government has listened to its concerns over a future capability gap in the UK SAR service.

On 28 November, the Department for Transport (DfT) published a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union November to commence procurement for a new UK wide service contract which will provide a search and rescue capability provided by civilian crews, enabling the Armed Forces to focus activity on their front line operations.

In a public statement the DfT explained that the competition will procure a contracted search and rescue helicopter service for the whole of the UK, for a period of approximately 10 years.

The first part of the new service will be operational in time to ensure that the Ministry of Defence is able to meet its previously announced intention to retire its fleet of Sea King helicopters by March 2016.

The replacement for the capability currently provided by the MCA will follow on from this. The Department claim that the transition will ensure continuity of service.

RYA concerns over capability gap

Stuart Carruthers, Cruising Manager, said” we had considerable concerns that there would be a real capability gap in the UK SAR service when the initial PFI replacement was cancelled because of the imminent retirement of the Seakings at the end of their planned life and because it was not clear what ‘son of PFI’ would look like.

“This was compounded when the SOTERA search and rescue helicopter procurement was cancelled in February 2011 following the discovery of irregularities in the bidding process.

“As a result we wrote to both the Defence Minister and the Shipping Minister to express our serious concerns and to ask that the matter be resolved as a matter of considerable urgency.

“The recent announcement by the DfT indicates that Government has listened to our concerns and is now taking action to resolve the SAR helicopter replacement issue.

“The RYA will be monitoring the process carefully to ensure that continuity of service is not affected and to ensure that the replacement contract meets all operational parameters set by the DfT".

New Search and rescue plans

Under existing arrangements, search and rescue is provided jointly by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) - operating a fleet of Sea King helicopters from eight military bases, with a further four civilian bases operated under contract to the MCA.

Under the new plans, search and rescue operations at RAF Boulmer will end in 2015 and at Portland when the MCA contract expires during 2017.

The winning bidder will be then be expected to operate from ten locations around the UK, but provide at least the same level of service as at present.

Bidders for the future service will be able to put forward options which will utilise a mixed fleet of modern helicopters based on the capabilities required at each of the bases (such as range, carrying capacity and endurance).

The services will be capable of delivery by different contractors providing complementary services. The Government expects to award this new contract in early 2013 to give the future service provider time to mobilise the new capability.

Read the Department for Transport’s public statement.