THE Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is to close its Tyneside marine office as part of a “transformation programme” which will save more than a third of a million pounds.

The office, in Tyne Dock, South Shields, is one of four across the country due to close, along with Harwich, Norwich and Orpington.

Three more sites, Dover, Falmouth and Milford Haven will be downgraded and become satellite bases.

The RMT union, which is objecting to the plans, said the Tyne office was the busiest in the country for exams being taken by those working at sea.

Its general secretary Mick Cash said: “This is a deeply disappointing decision and it makes no mention at all of the impact on seafarers from closing marine offices.

“We continue to believe that the MCA’s survey and inspection capacity will compromised by a shrinking of the national network.

“We cannot accept a situation where UK seafarers of today and tomorrow are prevented from taking up jobs and training in the domestic shipping industry due to a lack of basic support from Government.

“RMT will continue to fight these closures.”

Sir Alan Massey, the MCA’s chief executive, said: “Modernising our approach, in terms of both the geographical location of our offices and the way our surveyors work, offers us a positive, efficient way forward.

“We have consulted widely with our staff and external customers in coming to these decisions.”

A spokeswoman for the MCA said 18 members of staff would be affected by the closure.

She said: "We will retain surveyors within the Tyne area, working in a more flexible and responsive way.

"In the North-East, this could see surveyors working – for example – out of Newcastle, South Shields, Hartlepool or Scarborough.

"The proposed changes will enable the MCA to better meet the needs of our customers."