A recent shipping disaster "underlines'' the need for Bermuda to seek partners in establishing an air-sea rescue base and training centre, according to National Liberal Party spokesman Graeme Outerbridge.

But Labour and Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said the issue was "not on the front-burner'' of Government's agenda at present.

She added: "I don't think Bermuda has a moral responsibility to establish a base but only to comply with treaties and assist with rescues as is needed and as we are doing on this occasion.'' Mr. Outerbridge was speaking after 18 people died when the 776-foot salt freighter Leader L sank 400 miles north-east of the Island.

He said he thought the fact that Bermuda does not have a rescue station on its soil is "one of the factors that slows down'' the helping of stricken seamen in the North Atlantic.

"I don't know whether they could have saved some more people or not,'' he said. "We feel strongly that, with big events such as the Tall Ships Race it's time for an in-depth feasibility study to be done by this Government and other partners, such as the US, Canada or the UK.

"Another thing we think would be necessary would be a training centre for international ocean rescue,'' Mr. Outerbridge said. "It makes such sense because a lot of the conditions they need to train are right here.'' He said the prohibitive cost associated with establishing such a centre "doesn't mean we can't investigate doing something by having discussions with other parties, such as the United States Coast Guard.'' "Clearly we couldn't pay for it ourselves but we have to do something,'' Mr.

Outerbridge said. "All we can do is be the catalyst.'' But Ms Cox said: "I don't think this issue highlights the need for such a base on the Island.

"We have a Rescue Coordination Centre and that does a very good job,'' she said. "We don't have a moral responsibility to set up a base but just to comply with treaties and assist with rescues as is needed and as we are doing on this occasion.'' She said if any base were to be set up on the Island, it would be up to another party, such as the United States Coast Guard, to spearhead the development.

"If the US showed an interest in setting up a rescue centre here then we would talk with them about it,'' Ms Cox said. "But the issue is certainly not on the front-burner of Government's agenda right now.'' RESCUE RES