‘Russian tanker in Scapa Flow would dishonour memory of Royal Oak’

Alistair Carmichael has written to the Prime Minister urging him deny Russian-owned vessels access to UK ports, as the row over a visiting oil tanker to Orkney deepens.

Following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, allowing access to vessels owned by Russia would “dishonour the memory of the sacrifice that the crew of the Royal Oak made in their fight against fascism,” says Mr Carmichael.

He called on the Prime Minister to take immediate action to halt the visit of tanker NS Champion, which is due to berth at Flotta on Tuesday, March 1.

The 244-metre Liberian-flagged ship belongs to state-owned Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest shipping company, and one of the global leaders in the transporting oil and gas around the world.

Currently such vessels operate freely and cannot legally be denied access to ports by local authorities.

Following the visit of another Sovcomflot vessel to Sheltand on Thursday, Boris Johnson vowed to investigate such ships’ access to North Sea terminals.

He added that sanctions can be targeted at “any company, any entity that has a relation with the Russian state.”

Mr Carmichael has now written to Mr Johnson, highlighting the Northern Isles’ key role in fighting the Nazi regime in the Second World War, including the sinking of the Royal Navy flagship, the Royal Oak, with a loss of 835 men and boys.

In his letter, the Northern Isles MP says: “It is imperative, therefore, that you should act without delay to ensure that Sovcomflot is sanctioned and denied access for their vessels to British ports.

“Like right thinking people across the United Kingdom, the people of Orkney have been sickened by what we have seen on our television screens of the Russian attack on Ukraine.

“We expect you, as our Prime Minister, to act to stop this continued trade that is earning money to fund the slaughter of Ukrainian citizens.”

He continues: “To allow Sovcomflot to operate without let or hindrance in Scapa Flow would be to dishonour the memory of the sacrifice that the crew of the Royal Oak made in their fight against fascism of the sort that is currently engaged in attacking the people of Ukraine.”

Adding their voice to the outcry, the Orkney Greens are demanding a ban on Russian vessels entering the Flow.

Green OIC Councillor Steve Sankey has vowed to do everything he can to stop the tanker entering Scapa Flow and docking at Flotta.

He said: “I’ve taken advice from OIC’s head of legal services to establish that OIC must comply by law with the so called ‘open port duty’. This stems from the 1847 Harbours Act which states that any harbour may be open to all for the shipping of goods.

“But in my view is this is so very different. Can you imagine Churchill complying with Victorian legislation and allowing a vessel owned by a hostile nation into the Flow?

“We have a proud maritime history in Orkney, and we should play our part and issue an immediate ban on all Russian vessels entering our harbours. This would be a peaceful but very effective act.”

Councillor Sankey intends to liaise with OIC officers, his councillor colleagues and politicians early next week to see how this visit can be stopped. He says he can’t condone OIC services of any type assisting the vessel.

“Whilst we may by law have to allow access, there’s no law that says our pilot boats and tugs should be used, and I’m deeply unhappy about our harbour assets helping a Russian ship under current circumstances,” adds Councillor Sankey.

In a statement provided to The Orcadian on Saturday, Orkney Islands Council said the authority is an “extremely difficult position.”

A spokeswoman said: ”We recognise the strength of feeling around this — feelings that we share —  but we are bound by our legal obligations to accept the vessel, until such a time as the UK Government tells us otherwise.

“We have sought urgent advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who have told us that the current sanctions do not cover this operation.

”We continue dialogue both with elected representatives and Government departments on this situation as we seek to clarify what possible further action can be taken.”