Industry news
Concern over MCA staffing problem
Posted Thu, 29 Oct 2009
A report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has revealed that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has a worrying staffing problem and an "ageing" ships inspection surveyor workforce.
According to the report, the agency is not sure if it will achieve its target of an increase of 7% in the UK-registered fleet each year between 2008 and 2012.
MPs said they were "concerned that the agency has shown no evidence of a robust and proactive strategy to recruit and retain the staff that it needs".
The committee said that the regulator of the UK's merchant shipping fleet should conduct more surprise safety inspections of high-risk, UK-registered ships to make sure resources were focused on taking precautionary measures on upcoming dangers rather than responding to them.
The report also highlighted the deteriorating quality of the UK-flagged ships' register, which has maintained a high international standing.
It also called upon the agency to "establish the reasons for this decline and develop a plan to reduce deficiencies and to restore its previous standing."
The report further showed that the agency did not have a clear marketing strategy to attract quality ships to operate under the UK flag.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
House of Commons Public Accounts Committee