HAVING just read your coverage of the Sea Empress incident in the Telegraph I would like to express my disappointment that there was no mention of the work of the emergency services.
HM Coastguard, Police, Fire, and Ambulance and RNLI services all played a crucial part in the incident.
I was District Controller at Milford Haven Coastguard and saw the hard work put in by all of these services.
Initially the priority was the lives of those on board the tanker and on the vessels sent to assist. My station hosted representatives from the emergency services and counter pollution response teams during all the initial rescue phases and subsequently during the clean up.
I can tell you at first hand of the professionalism, dedication and hard work put in by all of them. I am proud to point out that not a single human life was lost during the whole incident, and was pleased to share this information with Prince Charles when he visited us.
I totally agree with your praise in the paper of the hundreds of hard-working volunteers, council workers, animal charity workers, Port Authority and others who cleaned up the horrible mess on our beaches and coastline, but please don’t forget those in uniform who were at the co-ordinating hub bearing the responsibility.
PETER MORRIS
HM COASTGUARD (retired)
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