In the world of government spending, there are purchases that make you nod in approval, and then there are those that make you scratch your head in sheer bafflement. The Isle of Man Government’s foray into the latter category is a tale worth telling, as it involves a £90,000 aircraft rescue boat, a £58,000 slipway, and, believe it or not, zero usage since its grand debut in 2019. The story was extensively reported first by Isle of Man Newspapers in the Isle of Man Examiner on 3 January 2024.
First off, let’s set sail with the basics. The Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB), a vessel that screams efficiency and readiness, was reportedly acquired for a cool £87,057. This modern-day maritime marvel, designed for swift response to sea incidents, apparently requires such a high level of training that it’s been nothing more than an ornamental piece at the Isle of Man Airport.
Now, you might think, “Surely, it’s just the boat that’s gathering dust?” Ah, but there’s more! In a plot twist that could only be conjured up in the world of governmental decision-making, an additional £58,000 was splashed out for a replacement slipway in Derbyhaven – for a boat that’s never left the harbour.
Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall’s explanation? The training required to deploy the boat is Everest-high, making it a Herculean task for the airport fire services personnel to maintain the necessary skill levels. One might wonder, was there no inkling of this training Everest when the boat was purchased?
And where, you ask, is this aquatic white elephant? Mr Crookall couldn’t initially pinpoint its location, leading to a somewhat comical game of ‘Find the Boat’. Eventually, it was confirmed to be stored at the airport – a fitting resting place for a vessel that’s never seen action.
The Department of Infrastructure, in a bid to steer the ship away from criticism, states that the decision to acquire the boat was based on a range of considerations. Yet, one can’t help but question the foresight in procuring a high-tech rescue boat without a clear plan for its operation or maintenance.
Jason Moorhouse, who raised the issue in the House of Keys, hit the nail on the head. He pointed out the significant investment by the island’s Government and the lack of clarity on the craft’s usage and storage. In a nutshell, it’s an unfortunate example of a ‘must-have’ that’s currently not meeting our expectations – or doing much of anything, really.
“The Isle of Man Government’s tale of the unused rescue boat and its accompanying slipway is more than just a story of unused equipment. It’s a narrative that sails through the choppy waters of governmental decision-making, docking at the harbour of questions about spending priorities and operational planning. As taxpayers, it’s our right to ask: is this the best use of our hard-earned money? Perhaps the next time the government decides to set sail on a purchasing journey, they might first check if anyone on board knows how to steer the ship,” said Michael Josem of the Manx TaxPayers’ Alliance.