Concern over new ship-to-ship rules

DRAFT legislation on ship-to-ship transfer of oil has the potential to disadvantage the port of Sullom Voe, a meeting of the council’s harbour board heard.

Councillors expressed concern that the port, “which has consistently set the standard for safe operations” could be left out should just six ports in the UK are licensed to carry out the lucrative business.

Officers will now lobby the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on both the national and local level to make the case for Sullom.

Board chairman, Alastair Cooper, said he would like to see Toby Stone, the head of the MCA, come to Shetland to see how ship-to-ship oil transfers are being done in the port.

The council as operator of the port has high hopes that ship-to-ship transfers could create a regular new stream of income for the port to replace some of the business lost due to dwindling tanker traffic exporting North Sea crude.

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A number of transfers whereby Russian oil was transferred from smaller vessels to a larger one for export have taken place during the course of particularly last year.

Now, the government wants tighter regulations of such operations and also force tanker owners to carry out oil transfers in the designated ports rather than the high sea.

In his report to board members, harbour master Roger Moore said: “The current consultation would suggest that up to six ports in the UK may be authorised to carry out ship-to ship operations.”

During the meeting, he added: “I would be highly surprised if we were not accepted.”