Proposed Coastguard modernisation 

Transport Select Committee criticises current proposals.

In its recent report (June 2010) the Transport Select Committee (TSC) made it clear to Government that it cannot support the proposals for the modernisation of the Coastguard in their current form.

The committee conducted an extensive inquiry into the Government's proposals' travelling around the country to take evidence from a variety of individuals and organisations including the RYA.

Refinements to current proposals

Government will now be in the process of reviewing all the responses it has received through the public consultation, together with the TSC's report. 

We understand that Government hopes to produce refinements to its original proposals before Parliament goes into recess at the end of July.

TSC concerned that safety would be jeopardised

In its report the committee concluded that the current proposals put forward by Government to modernise the Coastguard do not, as they stand, 'provide reassurance that the ability of the Coastguard to respond to emergencies at sea will be maintained at current levels, let alone improved.

'The evidence we have received raises serious concerns that safety will be jeopardised if the proposals proceed in their current form.'

Furthermore the committee also concluded that 'the current proposals pay more attention to the MCA's statutory obligations towards the commercial shipping industry and far less to its obligations towards leisure craft and small boat users'.

The committee added that 'the revised proposals must show how the level of protection afforded to leisure users, small fishing vessels and the like will not be reduced as a result of any reorganisation of the Coastguard'.

RYA clear that service levels must not diminish

This was a key point made by the RYA in its response to the public consultation.

We made it very clear that all Coastguard services that are currently delivered, including search and rescue, provision of maritime safety information and VHF voice communication, must, at the least continue at the same level as present and indeed should be improved.

Stuart Carruthers, RYA Cruising Manager