Ballast water changes backed by councillors

Councillors have backed a major change in ballast water regulations for Scapa Flow.

The long running, and contentious, issue of changes in ballast water regulations was the subject of a debate in the council chamber today, at a General Meeting of the OIC.

Under the previous policy tankers must deballast outside the Flow, but the OIC has been looking at changing these regulations for almost five years, spending almost £500,000 in the process.

Following discussions and a vote today, councillors supported the adoption of a new policy, which will allow previously exchanged ballast water to be released into Scapa Flow.

In addition, ships with onboard ballast water treatment plants will have to not only exchange the water before entering Scapa, but will also have to treat it before it is released.

Meeting today, councillors ratified the decision which came forward from the policy and resources committee last month.