A row over insurance cover for part-time coastguards has been growing this week, with more teams joining around 10 UK crews, including some in Pembrokeshire, in withdrawing their services. Broadhaven and Penrhyn teams withdrew their services and were joined at midnight on Wednesday by St. Davids and Fishguard. St Govans were not responding to emergencies in flank stations. The Tenby unit met earlier in the week and decided to continue to provide search and rescue cover for the present time until after the outcome of a meeting between their colleagues in Fisguard and the chief coastguard yesterday (Thursday). Following the outcome of that meeting, the team would re-assess the situation before making a decision on what cover they were likely to provide. The action comes after a volunteer in Fishguard, who lost his job after damaging his knee in a rescue, claims he did not receive adequate compensation. During the strike action, contingencies have been put in place by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The agency also stressed that other emergency services, including the RNLI, were still operating, and lives would not be put at risk.
