Ship-to-ship transfer set for the Flow

A ship-to-ship transfer operation, involving liquid natural gas, is due to begin in Scapa Flow today, Monday.

The transfer of LNG will take place between two vessels while at anchor in the Flow.

The vessel Ben Badis will transfer approximately 70,000 cubic metres of LNG to a second vessel, the Excel. The operation is expected to take around 48 hours to complete.

Orkney Islands Council harbour master David Sawkins said: “This will be the third STS operation involving LNG to take place in the Flow. It follows earlier successful LNG transfers in 2007 and 2010.

“Meticulous planning has gone into our preparations. All the agencies involved have taken part in a detailed run-through of every aspect of the operation.”

A Notice to Mariners has been issued which advises that a 500-metre exclusion zone will be in place while the vessels are moving and during the transfer operation.