11th May 2006

Smith and Barrett speak out on ship to ship oil transfers

John Barrett MP and Margaret Smith MSP have made a submission to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency about the issue of contingency plans for oil spills in the River Forth in light of proposals for ship to ship oil transfer by Melbourne Marine Services’ for the transfer of oil from small to large tankers four miles off the coast near Methil, Fife.

Margaret says:

“We believe that there are alternatives available to transfer the oil, namely whilst the ships are docked and not at sea. Furthermore as there are no benefits from STS operations to the local community it cannot be said that it is in the public interest. We therefore believe the Maritime and Coastal Agency should gain a ruling regarding the EU habitats directive before any decision is made on this plan.

“The Firth of Forth is a very environmentally sensitive area and should be given robust protection. Although by no means experts in this field we have a number of concerns with the contingency plan if there were an oil spill, and believe it should be given further thought.

“Given the ecologically sensitive nature of the Firth of Forth, and that the Forth was not listed as a suitable location for STS oil transfer, we consider that this plan should not be given approval. However we recognise that this consultation is not on the suitability of the practice of STS operations but on the contingency plan itself. Given that regulations governing this practice will shortly released by the government, we believe this plan should not be given the go ahead until the practice is properly regulated At the very least a ruling should be gained regarding the suitability of this location in relation to the habitats directive before any decision is made.”

Submission by John Barrett MP and Margaret Smith MSP >>