Orkney to lose seven coastguard rescue teams

Here goes with my first blog

Following a major review of the service in Orkney by sector manager Ian Lindsey and area operations manager Ian Burgess, seven coastguard rescue teams are to be given the chop at the end of this month. Volunteers in Flotta, Shapinsay, Rousay, Stronsay, Eday, Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay will no longer be required.

The teams in Kirkwall, Stromness ,St Margaret’s Hope, Sanday, Westray, and Hoy will be retained.

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has expressed his concern regarding the proposals to reduce the number of volunteer coastguards in Orkney.

The news has lead to Mr Carmichael asking for a meeting to discuss the proposals with Chief Coastguard of the UK, Mr Rod Johnson and UK Maritime Minister, Mr Jim Fitzpatrick MP.

Mr Carmichael says that is simply not good enough that changes of this sort should be announced without consultation.

I think that this is just a sign of the times , I remenber the hoo ha when it was first made public that Pentland Coastguard was to close at the end of December 2000 and that it would be so much more dangerous for shipping in Orkney waters , but here we are 8 years later and it appears to have had no serious affect on safety. I can see no reason to believe that the reduction of teams in Orkney will make any difference as the number of rescues or searches required is very low.