News / Tugs back on the job
TWO emergency towing vessels are being brought back into service for three months, the government announced on Friday.
Scotland has been without cover from the coastguard tugs for two weeks since the Maritime & Coastguard Agency ended it contract as part of the government’s cost cutting measures.
At the 11th hour the government staged a U turn and agreed to spend £3 million extending the contract for three months, but it has taken a fortnight to put the deal in place.
Now the Anglian Sovereign will patrol waters around the northern isles and the Anglian Monarch will cover the western isles. The Anglian Sovereign is expected in Shetland on Saturday morning, while the Anglian Monarch will be in Stornoway on Sunday night.
The government is still trying to persuade the oil and gas industry to contribute towards the cost of keeping the tugs going, after the Department of Transport said it had no cahs to spend.
The Scotland Office is leading efforts to replace the tugs on a permanent basis and Scottish secretary Michael Moore will chair a meeting of the emergency towing vessel group in his Edinburgh office on Monday.
Shetland Islands Council leader Josie Simpson is expected to attend along with Orkney’s convener Stephen Hagan, representatives from Highland and Western Isles Councils and the MCA.
Northern isles MP Alistair Carmichael welcomed the news on Friday afternoon, saying: “This is a most welcome development and reflects the hard work done by ministers, the MCA and the Scotland Office.
“It will be welcome news throughout the northern isles and it is important now that we focus on getting a long term solution in place as quickly as possible.
“I look forward to working with colleagues in government on this to ensure that out shipping and coastline is properly protected.”
Scottish secretary Michael Moore said: “Ministers are working hard to try and broker a deal for 2012 and beyond and I will chair a meeting of the ETV group in Edinburgh on Monday to take this work forward urgently.
“I am confident we can work towards a long-term solution for the ETVs and we will be working with a wide range of stakeholders, including the oil and gas industry, towards that goal.”
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