THE main tug operating from New-haven is to be taken out of service after 20 years with the loss of five jobs.

Another eight jobs are under threat with the news that port owner Sea Containers plans in an attempt to cut costs to run the harbour with CCTV cameras and marine traffic lights rather than watchtower staff.

Under the new system the port would be operated by a traffic light system with CCTV cameras as back-up.

It would take only one man to keep an eye on vessels entering and leaving port.

A similar system has been installed at the port of Folkestone in Kent.

Lewes MP Norman Baker last night accused Sea Containers of compromising on safety and called for the Marine Safety Agency to look at the proposals.

Mr Baker said: "I know a

similar system operates at Folkestone, but I am concerned that if it is introduced at Newhaven it could compromise on safety. There

are large vessels going in and

out of Newhaven. The port

has greater activity than Folkestone.

"At the moment they have got four people overseeing ship

movements in and out of the port at any one time.

"They plan to replace that with just one man who will say, 'Off you go,' and will not have an all-round view of what is happening in the port."

With a large number of leisure craft and fishing boats using the port he feared there could be

collisions.

Mr Baker said: "This is being done for the convenience of

Hoverspeed and not for the sake of the port."

In October 1998, port controller Eric Ranger saved the lives of two fishermen after spotting them in the sea in gale-force winds.

In his role as watchman, Eric saw Dave Bickerstaff, 35, and his 18-year-old nephew, Billy Bickerstaff, fighting for survival in the water after their fishing boat capsized and sank. Mr Ranger radioed another boat, which plucked the men to safety.

Close relation William Bickerstaff said at the time: "If Eric hadn't seen them turn over they would now be dead."

Sea Containers say the tug, the 100ft Meeching, used mainly to manoeuvre dredgers in and out, is now largely redundant.

It was also used to guide the old conventional ferries in rough weather, but the new fast ferry, SuperSeaCat Two, does not need a large tug.

Hoverspeed's New-haven to Dieppe service has done better than expected and has revitalised Newhaven as a ferry port.

But with no sign of a freight ferry service starting from Newhaven as hoped, the tug has little to do.

Sea Truck Ferries, the Lancashire-based company which showed an interest in operating a freight-only service, says it has been been having difficulty finding a suitable ship to charter on the route.

Nobody from Sea Containers was available for comment.

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