Coastguard chiefs were told yesterday that communities in the north and north-east have no confidence in their management of the life-saving service.
Local MPs criticised the UK Government over staff shortages at key co-ordination centres, including at Aberdeen, Stornoway and Belfast.
Shipping Minister Stephen Hammond responded by revealing that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was in the process of recruiting 59 additional watch staff across the country.
He said three of the six vacancies in Shetland were being filled, both of the two empty posts in Stornoway, and one of the three in Aberdeen.
The Press and Journal revealed in May that the Aberdeen co-ordination centre was staffed below “risk-assessed” levels on 57% of shifts between April 2012 and March.
The figures, released under freedom of information laws, showed Stornoway coastguard co-ordination centre was short-staffed on 21% of shifts and Belfast for 45%, but Lerwick was under strength for just 0.4% of the watches.
The staff shortage emerged at a time when the centres are being asked to cover much larger areas, following the closures of the Forth and Clyde bases last year.
MPs debated the controversial reorganisation at Westminster yesterday.
Angus MacNeil, SNP MP for the Western Isles, said: “The conclusion that I draw from these sorts of figures is that the confidence in MCA management is not what it should be. I have a lack of confidence personally, and I think that people in my community have a lack of confidence.”
Mr MacNeil also raised ongoing concerns about the decision to base two emergency tugs in the northern isles, and not one on the west coast.
Alan Reid, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll and Bute, said: “I agree that the community doesn’t have confidence.
“We all hope there won’t be a major incident but inevitably one will happen and that’s when this will be put to the test. I hope that before that happens the co-ordination centres are all fully staffed.”
Mr Hammond said he hoped a new pay deal being offered to staff would help fill vacancies.
He added: “There is no impact on safety because of the changes and no impact on frontline services. The impact of this is that co-ordination will be improved and it will impact on safety, it will increase safety.”