Shipping incidents highlight the need for tug coverage

Emergency Towing Vessel provision should be reviewed immediately and extended beyond March 2016, said Cabinet Secretary for rural affairs, food and the environment Richard Lochhead during the national marine plan debate yesterday.

This call comes as a result of the recent sinking of the cement carrier Cemfjord off Orkney and the grounding of the cargo ship Lysblink Seaways at Ardnamurchan Point.

He said that the UK Government must reassure maritime industries that emergency tug provision is available across Scotland’s waters including the Western Isles and the west coast of Scotland.

“Over the past few months alone there has been three major incidents involving vessels in our waters– most recently the grounding of a large cargo ship this week near Ardnamurchan Point, illustrating the need to give our utmost protection to the marine environment.”

He added: “Our seas are vast, we have six times more water than land in Scotland and unfortunately incidents do happen. It is unacceptable that we have only one emergency towing vessel to cover the whole of the country. The UK Government cannot be allowed to gamble on Scotland’s marine environment.

“This is why today I will write to seek early discussions on the immediate review and call of the UK Government to extend funding for Emergency Towing Vessels beyond March 2016.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that our seas are well managed now and into the future, so that a full range of benefits continue to flow to the people of Scotland.”