THE fate of Solent Coastguard rescue centre looks set to be sealed tomorrow after 19 months of uncertainty.

John Prescott is expected to make a statement about whether he will go ahead with plans to move its operations room elsewhere as part of a wider series of announcements on shipping policy.

Later today the Marine Accident Investigations Branch will publish a report into a rescue operation after the Marine Lily, a cargo vessel, ran aground off Shetland in November 1997.

A coastguard winchman died during the rescue. Mr Prescott's announcement the following day will incorporate the government's response to the report.

The Southampton-based Maritime and Coastguard Agency also expects him to announce the outcome of a review into plans to close Solent Coastguard's centre and move staff to new premises shared with Portland Coastguard.

Mr Prescott has been studying the conclusions of Lord Donaldson of Lymington, the distinguished lawyer and shipping expert, whom he asked to look at the proposals with "a fresh pair of eyes".

He is also overdue in responding to a report by the House of Commons transport sub-committee that in February criticised the handling of the proposals and called for them to be scrapped.

Lord Donaldson visited Solent Coastguard's rescue centre by HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent and that of Portland Coastguard in Weymouth late last month as he compiled evidence.

Last night staff at the centre said they had no idea what the future held.

Bill Gibbs, branch secretary of the coastguards' union, PTC (Public, Tax and Commerce), said: "There has been little consultation over the proposal. We have no idea what is going to be announced."

Proposals by chief coastguard John Astbury to "co-locate" Solent and Portland rescue centres and to close stations at Liverpool, Tyne Tees, Oban and Pentland were twice approved by the government, in November 1997 and in July last year.

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