Councillors will hear ballast water concerns

Orkney Islands Council has confirmed that councillors will hear concerns regarding proposed changes to the ballast water regulations for Scapa Flow, when a major meeting takes place on the issue next month.

Earlier this month, at a special meeting of the OIC’s policy and resources committee, the long running and contentious issue of changes in ballast water regulations was the subject of a two-hour debate in the council chamber.

A present, crude oil tankers must deballast outside the Flow, but the OIC has been looking at changing these regulations for almost five years.

Following discussions, and a vote, the P&R committee supported the adoption of a new policy, which will allow previously exchanged at sea 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.

Although agreed by councillors at that meeting, the final decision must be agreed by the full council, which is due to meet on December 10.

The council has agreed to a request from wildlife tour guide Steve Sankey that he be given the opportunity to address councillors at that meeting.

A council statement said: “The stated purpose of the deputation is to make submissions to members regarding the ballast water policy review. In making the request, Mr Sankey has said he will be accompanied by representatives of RSPB Scotland and the Orkney Fisheries Association.”

Throughout the process there have been concerns voiced from environmental organisations, and representatives of the local fishing industry, that allowing vessels to discharge ballast water in Scapa Flow could lead to the introduction of foreign, and potentially harmful, species to Orkney waters, including into the environmentally sensitive Stenness Loch.