Strong case for ruling out ship-to-ship oil transfers in Firth of Forth, says SNP

Published on Friday 25 May 2007 00:08

RICHARD Lochhead, Scotland's Environment Secretary, yesterday said there was a strong case for ruling out plans to allow oil tankers to transfer Russian crude from ship-to-ship in the Firth of Forth. He also announced his firm intention that parliament would have final say over the issue.

Environmentalists claim allowing the procedure would risk an oil spill that would devastate wildlife in the Forth.

In a statement to Holyrood, Mr Lochhead stressed the issue was a priority but added the Executive had to consider all the options and avoid unintended consequences from over-hurried legislation.

He came under attack from Labour's Rhona Brankin for a "wishy-washy" statement that did not spell out what action would be taken to stop ship-to-ship transfer.

Forth Ports, which retained its role as the regulatory authority when it was privatised, is considering an application from a shipping company, SPT Marine Services, to carry out ship-to-ship transfer of nearly eight million tonnes of crude oil a year.

It has said it will discuss the plan with the Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage, but the decision is up to Forth Ports. Mr Lochhead said he had made it "very, very clear" to the company that parliament expects the firm will not make a decision before MSPs have considered the issue. He added: "There would appear to be a strong case for ruling out new ship to ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth."