Emergency tug cover funding announced

The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore today confirmed the UK Government will continue to fund an emergency towing vessel up to 2015.

The news in Parliament this morning brings a search for a solution to the issue to a successful conclusion and means there will be a vessel on hand to provide cover and assistance to shipping around the coast of Scotland as required.

Month-by-month funding arrangements had been in place to allow the Emergency Towing Vessel Scotland Group look at potential solutions, including commercial call-out options, and that cover will continue until the long-term arrangement is put in place. The procurement process will be launched today.