Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the length of time taken by the emergency towing vessel to respond to the foundering of the Cemfjord in the Pentland Firth.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has considered their coordination of the response to the foundering of the CEMFJORD. The correct search and rescue (SAR) resources were sent at the correct time once Her Majesty’s Coastguard had received a report of a capsized hull. The SAR response included four lifeboats, two helicopters and other vessels in the Pentland Firth area.

The emergency towing vessel was not sent as part of the SAR response but to mark the position of the capsized ship and to offer expert advice on any salvage effort.