The consultation considers the nature of the maritime-related public safety risks around the Southern part of the South West, and the adequacy of the range of rescue services available to deal with them if the additional MCA boats at Hope Cove and Tamar are no longer available, and, if a risk remains, how best that risk can be managed.

Her Majesty’s Coastguard is responsible throughout the UK for the co-ordination of maritime search and rescue operations. That service is available 24-hours-a-day, 365 days a year. Coastguard Officers draw on a range of rescue assets to provide the most appropriate response to individual situations. These assets include helicopters, RNLI and independent lifeboats, other ships in the vicinity of an incident, and the volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service, members of which are specifically trained in search, mud and cliff rescue techniques. To meet the changing needs of our society and in particular the diverse needs of beach and marine leisure users the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reviews Search and Rescue requirements on a regular basis.

The Agency is arranging two local public meetings hosted by officials to allow local people with concerns to make representations.

Jim McWilliams, Head of Search and Rescue at the MCA said: “Safety for all on the beach, cliff or at sea remains our top priority.

“Currently our general purpose boats do not meet approved safety standards and either have been withdrawn from operation or placed under restricted operations in the interests of their volunteer crews and the public. We recognise we have a duty of care to those in the Coastguard Rescue Service.