The National Liberal Party is calling for a US Coast Guard base to be established on the Island.

The call came following a spate of recent rescues in and around Bermuda's waters involving US-based helicopters.

NLP spokesman Graeme Outerbridge said that if a US base, including a helicopter landing site, was set on the Island, valuable time could be saved during emergency operations.

"Over the past several months the US Coast Guard has had to fly long rescue missions into the Bermuda area,'' Mr. Outerbridge said.

"Recently one of the rescues involved the addition of a Coast Guard long range helicopter, which landed and refuelled in Bermuda before returning to the US. This mission was to get medical help to stricken seamen on a ship near Bermuda.

"It was a very difficult undertaking which involved putting highly trained swimmers into the Atlantic in order to board the ship and get medical aid to the sick seamen.'' The NLP has taken note of the US Coast Guard's incredible work in the North Atlantic and wonders if a partnership could be established between the marine section of the Bermuda Regiment and the US Coast Guard to establish a small base in Bermuda for training and rescue.

If such a base were created, Bermudians could train with the best in ocean rescue and the response time would be greatly enhanced to the benefit of both countries and those in peril on the sea.

"Also the outreach of rescue missions into the Atlantic could be greatly increased,'' the NLP said. "Bermuda's marine areas are vast and joint training missions could involve basic patrols of our territorial waters.

"This is an idea which needs the support of the Bermudian and US authorities and the NLP wishes to act as a positive catalyst to see such an important rescue station become a reality.

Call for Coast Guard base "We ask the Bermuda Government to initiate contact through the appropriate channels to make this idea a reality.'' Last night Public Safety Minister Paula Cox could not be contacted to discuss the proposal.

Rescue Co-ordination Centre Officer-in-Charge Scott Simmons confirmed that there had been a number of recent rescues in which US rescue teams had had to be called in.

"A lot of this goes back to the closure of the US Naval Air Station. We miss that now but to say that it's essential for the job day-in day-out -- I don't think so,'' Mr. Simmons said.

"From a policy standpoint, in this part of the Atlantic we enjoy a great working relationship with the US Coast Guard and all our staff are trained to US standards.

"We do work very much with them and enjoy access to all the resources available to the US if it's on a life safety matter.'' Graeme Outerbridge Graphic file name: GOUTER