News / Coastguard staffing concern
STAFFING levels at Shetland Coastguard station are “almost at crisis point” with eight posts unfilled.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union warned on Monday that staffing figures at most UK coastguard stations were “deeply troubling”.
Chairman of the Shetland PCS coastguard branch, Mike Smith, said that some 12-hour shifts were run by just two watch officers.
Just 16 of the 24 posts at Shetland coastguard are currently filled, while Aberdeen coastguard are missing seven staff from its full complement of 26 staff.
Following a huge campaign, the station at The Knab was saved from closure two years ago, but the sea area covered was increased significantly.
Smith said the workload had increased and more incidents outside Shetland coastguard’s traditional cover area have to be dealt with.
Meanwhile, negotiations that should have led to better pay and conditions for coastguard staff are only making slow progress.
He said: “There have been a few occasions of the last two to three months where it actually was down to just two people on a watch.
“In daytime you can just about get away with that, because there are other people you can call upon; at nighttime those two can deal with what goes on routinely, but if anything out of the ordinary happens, they will be struggling.”
He said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency had nationally carried out a recruitment drive recently but that did not result in any new staff joining the coastguard in the isles.
And he warned of short-term solutions, as it would take a number of years for any new recruits to become fully qualified members of the team that could be fully relied on during emergencies.
A spokesperson for the MCA said: “Currently, where a Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre is experiencing reduced staffing levels, established ‘pairing’ arrangements are used.
“This means each MRCC can be connected to at least one other MRCC that will provide mutual support.”
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