Fire brigade chiefs want to base a specialist maritime unit at a top fishing port.
Plans are being drawn up to make Peterhead the HQ for highly-trained crews who would use boats and even helicopters to respond to incidents in the North Sea.
They would be able to go to the aid of trawlers, cargo boats and other shipping – and be capable of dealing with incidents in and around the northern isles.
The Scottish Fire and rescue Service and Scottish Government are working together on the project and favour Peterhead because of its location and the ongoing investment in the port.
The plans have not been finalised and no site for the new maritime response unit has been picked yet.
But Aberdeenshire fire and rescue station manager David Meldrum said he was confident the port would be selected for the tole.
He added: “What we’re proposing for Peterhead is a maritime response unit and that would mean our crews can go and tackle incidents that occur offshore.
“For Peterhead and the north-east of Scotland we could provide further support to more and more areas as part of the maritime response, travelling by helicopter or boat with equipment.
“The plan is across north-east of Scotland to get more response to areas, to specifically island areas, and enhancing resources for Peterhead.
“It is just part of a national review into specialist equipment. This is something that is getting looked at nationally.”
Last night, north-east safety groups and Peterhead’s harbour authority welcomed the prospect of the new unit being based in the town.
Sandy Allan, chairman of the Buchan Community Safety Group, said: “If it is looking at boat and fishing fires then Peterhead is probably the ideal place to have it based.
“Technology has moved on and this is probably something that has been needed for a long time, it is good to see it finally coming on board.
“There has certainly been a few incidents over the last few years, mostly on harbours.
“From a Peterhead point of view it is something probably long overdue. And it is additional resources that can be used for other things.”
Peterhead Port Authority’s chief executive, John Wallace, said: “There is no question about that it is to be welcomed. Peterhead would co-operate with anything like that because safety is in everyone’s interests.
“We’d be delighted to see it. Minutes can seem like hours out there when you are waiting on emergency services. We’re happy to be a part of it.”
The port’s harbour master, John Forman, said fishing crews currently had to do their best to tackle onboard fires on their own.
He added: “Emergency response teams will be more than welcomed in this area, your coastguard agencies have been cut back and cut back over the years and a response unit in this area would be a step in the right direction. We would welcome it.”