Anybody read the report on the MCA?

MCA and RNLI --- a question of funding?

The criticism was something of a bolt from the blue for those of us that aren't close followers. But it seems beyond dispute that the MCA is failing in the primary responsibility that has been set for it, to achieve a reduced rate of accidents and deaths.

What is not immediately evident is the source of the rising number of accidents and deaths: whether they are maritime or in the 'UK Search and Rescue Region and Coastline'. It seems that MCA are still very focussed on shipping, and have not yet taken fully on board their increased responsibility for the latter. In that respect, the RNLI's recent strategy of becoming involved in beach and river prevention and rescue work looks far-sighted. The MCA's policy, in seeking to cut back their operations, by comparison appears seriously flat-footed. Does this reflect, I wonder, on the difference in the way these two services are funded?

I was struck that in the news discussions of this on the box, items referred to the MCA but consistently showed pictures of the RNLI. I suspect this reflects public confusion in the respective roles of the two agencies and even a hint that from an organisational perspective it might be appropriate at some point to seek a merger. Of course, the different methods of funding would be a serious obstacle in practice.
 
Re: Merge MCA & RNLI

I hope you are not serious. Some people are critical of the way the RNLI spends its funds now. Merge it with the MCA and just imagine how much will be wasted.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>
 
Re: MCA and RNLI --- a question of funding?

First let's clarify:

MCA = the UK's Marine Administration ie Govt body responsible for all aspects of Safety at Sea within the UK's Territorial waters. This includes Cliff, Mud and Sea Rescue as well as all the SOLAS considerations.

RNLI = The UK's oldest and biggest lifeboat Charity (there are others!) which works under the control of MCA as a Search and Rescue resource. Hence the illustrations using RNLI lifeboats for SAR pictures .

If you were to combine these organsiations it wouldn't be too long before the treasury decided to sell off the Fleet due to Taxpayers' money having to fund them etc etc and to win votes.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom
 
Re: that\'ll learn \'im ...

.. (Mr Bligh) to attend Gwyneth's committee ill-prepared ...


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Re: MCA and RNLI --- a question of funding?

RNLI is not just UK's biggest rescue charity, but also Irelands. How many people on this forum know that they are active for the whole of Ireland's coastline?

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Re: MCA and RNLI --- a question of funding?

you may not know this but HMG's tanks are delivered to the battlefield by a private company, offshoot of Carlyle. As the drivers of the transporters can expect to be exposed to hostile fire, it seems a small step to privatise transporter, tank and squaddies inside it ... for HM Navy, of course, it could be that the ships are delivered by somebody else whilst the matelots travel by scheduled air services ...

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Too glib?

From the way the public supports the RNLI, it must be self-evident that no government could win votes by dismembering it. And the MCA does not appear to have been able to use the defence that it was too underfunded to achieve its objectives.

But leaving aside the issue of funding I can't help thinking that operationally a combined organisation would be better. No other emergency service is split in this way. (Or do we now 'contract out' the ambulance service? I'm losing touch ...)


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Re: that\'ll learn \'im ...

ohh .. i know his previous occupation (P&O Nedlloyd container capt ... you know, the cpy that runs 100,000 tonne vessels in the channel at max speed in contravention of col-regs and puts 2 fingers up to mca who are supposed to regulate these matters etc etc) but thought that non-serving merchant navy capts don't or can't use that title .... ?

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The RNLI is NOT an "Agency"

I'm sure that our current government would like to take it into QUANGO status but they aren't getting their hands on it. Take that as a cert!

This statistic, that "Deaths around our coasts are rising" is just what they have been looking for to spin into "these private boat users need regulating"

If we look at the death rate in comparison with the increased waterborne and coastal activity (this includes cliff exploration as well) then I would suggest that it is either constant or declining in proportion.

The RNLI is a charity and the finest life saving organisation in the world bar none, not an asset ready for plucking by and turning to the advantage of this despicable government.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion
 
Re: MCA and RNLI --- a question of funding?

Of course, in the Republic it is called the INLI, for very obvious reasons. There it's similarly staffed by local volunteers, and I'm sure raises a proportionate amount of it's charitable funding. It is a good example of how borders are smaller than causes.

<hr width=100% size=1>Nickel

Being paranoid simply means - having all the facts.
 
Re: MCA and RNLI --- a question of funding?

that was the very point made by Mary MacAleese at RNLI AGM ...

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WHY?

We all know that the RNLI works superbly. The weak link is the MCA since it was namechanged from HM Coastguard. So how is giving the good's resources to the bad going to improve anything?

If the MCA needs more funding (personally I think that in the old days they were given a lot of operational support by BT Coastal Radio Stations and when these went closing Rescue Co-ordination Centres was their major error) then let the government cough up.

No, this whole report thing is just an excuse to get you guys regulated (& me if ever I come back to this over-regulated land to sail)

Jonny Prescott will soon be seen on television telling the population that "Deaths are rising, look it's in this report. We must do something to control these hithertoo entirely unregulated dangerous vessels in the hands of anyone with the money to buy them. Common sense says it's wrong and in the public interest we intend to change it"

This government needs a cause-a-week to maintain some sort of support from their party "faithfull"

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion
 
Re: The RNLI is NOT an "Agency"

There, there, Steve, we'll all agree that the RNLI is THE FINEST ORGANISATION in the world, bar none. Get back in your cage, please!

This thread is not about criticising the RNLI but rather the MCA, and I wondered how it was the RNLI seemed to have the energy and initiative that the MCA is lacking, given the close relationship in their roles.

Interested to see the evidence you refer to, that death rates have been static or declining in relation to participation rates in maritime and seaside activities.

Evidently the Transport Enquiry didn't think so, at least not over all activities the MCA covers. It would, I agree, be very helpful to have this evidence for yachting, as a defence against greater regulation - hence my earlier question about what type of accident is on the rise.
 
Re: The RNLI is NOT an \"Agency\"

Don't you know dear boy? There are no QUANGO's any more!
There's this odd thing called an NDPB that looks a little similar though...

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Are we to assume that you are included ...

...in that group?

If so please detail here specific examples of "how the RNLI spends it's funds now" which need altering AND are you serious in suggesting that if it gets absorbed into a QUANGO then it will perform better? If you are suggesting the latter then past history refutes it in every case -you can't be serious!

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion
 
Re: Who me?

You may not have got the context of my comment and it is related to one I made on another question.

The public support for the RNLI although large (my Mum is an offshore member although she won't come out on a boat with me) is not the entire tax-paying population of the UK. The votes would be won from those who have no interest in the Sea or boating.

The other problem is that the RNLI is Fierce in defending its independence of the MCA, they would never agree to being combined.

Mike


<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom
 
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