THE man at the helm of the Maritime Coastguard Agency has today defended controversial moves to axe hundreds of jobs and close emergency coastguard stations.

Cut backs of up to £80m were unveiled earlier this year by the organisation, which has its headquarters in Southampton's Commercial Road.

But despite the looming threat of job losses, the chief executive has again moved to back the scheme.

Vice Admiral Alan Massey said that the planned shake up would not affect the safety of seafarers.

Unions have attacked the proposals, the most controversial of which will be the loss of 228 coastguards out of 600 posts, while ten of the present 19 facilities across the country will be shut.

Under the plans two major control centres operating 24 hours a day will be established in Scotland and in Hampshire - with the former Daedalus airfield earmarked as a possible site.

Vice Admiral Massey told the Daily Echo that with new technology the system could be run more efficiently and effectively.

"Anybody who uses the coast in Hampshire can be reassured that we are not pulling out of Hampshire or leaving the county stranded at all," he added.

"We do not want to increase the risk to mariners or fishermen or leisure users one iota. My job is to convince people that what we are doing will not do that.

"We are not affecting any of the rescue assets that we have.

The volunteer coastguard rescue teams, the RNLI lifeboat stations and the rescue helicopters - they will stay in place so the chances of you being rescued if you get in to distress on the coast or at sea are the same.

"Clearly from a personal view, it is never great to tell somebody that effectively they might well be made redundant as a result of the changes. But even my coastguards understand that no change is not an option."

Southampton's administrative centre is set to remain open, though it is unclear how many - if any - jobs will be lost there.

But Lee on the Solent's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre would close under the scheme with the 30 staff encouraged to move to the new control hub. A 14-week consultation over the plans began in January.