The Ministry of Transport has hit out at claims by a fisherman who said he could not rely on the Island's sea-borne search and rescue system.

They issued a statement in response to accusations from the man, that he waited for four hours to be rescued when his vessel suffered a flat battery whilst moored off North Rock, during poor weather.

The man even said the colour of his skin had an effect on the length of time the rescue took.

In a letter published in the The Royal Gazette yesterday, he wrote..."Had I been a white yachtsman from a foreign country...I would not have had a problem being rescued...But instead I am only a hard working black Bermudian fisherman, so I guess that counts for nothing in the minds of the personnel of Harbour Radio''.

The letter also claimed there were delays in getting a rescue vessel out, when the stricken craft was the furthest out and "was the first to communicate with Harbour Radio that our vessel was experiencing difficulty.'' And the fisherman, who was eventually towed to St. George's by 1.30 a.m. on July 25, said a faster vessel should have been sent to rescue the four people on board instead of sending a boat large enough to tow the boat ashore.

He added that all boat owners should band together to pressurise Government to implement a "far more effective search and rescue plan''.

But the Ministry of Transport have countered the man's claims with a rundown of the actual events on the day, saying the incident was dealt with in a professional manner, like any other vessel in distress.

They say the F/V Tannamakoon , owned and operated by Abdul Smith out of Mills Creek, was safely moored to a fishing buoy, under constant radar surveillance and "there was no immediate threat of safety of life''.

"If there had been an immediate threat of safety of life, a Marine Police fast rescue boat would have been tasked to remove the persons aboard,'' the statement continued.

"On the evening in question, Harbour Radio was dealing with eight other incidents, which occurred during a 90-minute period due to the passage of a strong frontal system.

"Mr. Smith made calls on radio and on cellular to all agencies and despite constant reassurances he appeared very distressed.'' The Ministry of Transport added that, at no time, did Mr. Smith request removal from his 35-foot wooden vessel.

A detailed log from the night in question also showed that broadcasts were made shortly after the Tannamakoon requested assistance, for vessels in the vicinity to help.

After no vessel was forthcoming, Harbour Radio called in the pilot vessel St.

George. It set out 65 minutes after the first distress call from the Tannamakoon and reached the vessel two hours later, before finally towing the broken down vessel back to St. George's.

GOVERNMENT GVT