Ballast water environment study goes out to consultation

An updated environmental assessment of a possible change to the OIC’s ballast water management policy goes out to public consultation this week.

The results of the consultation will be considered by councillors later this year before they debate whether to implement a change in policy.

The subject has been considered by the council for some time, with four options discussed. One of these – Option Two – would allow ships to exchange their ballast water in the North Sea while on route to Orkney – and then discharge this exchanged ballast water within Scapa Flow.

This option demands the greatest scrutiny of the potential impacts of a change in policy. The updated Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is being made available to the public as part of this process.

The SEA will be made available for public consultation over a six-week period, starting tomorrow, Thursday March 21.

Paper copies of the document will be available at OIC Customer Services in Kirkwall and the public libraries in Kirkwall and Stromness. The document is also available online at www.orkney.gov.uk and www.orkneyharbours.com

There will also be public drop-in events in Kirkwall Town Hall on April 10 and Stromness on April 11, with the venue to be confirmed later.

A possible change to the ballast water management policy will then be considered by the council’s policy and resources committee on May 28.