HIGHLANDS and Islands politicians are calling on Westminster’s Transport Secretary to urgently reinstate a second emergency towing vessel (ETV) in Scotland following the grounding of the oil rig Transocean Winner. The semi-submersible was blown ashore in severe weather last week when it detached from its tug en route from Norway to Malta and a 300-metre sea and air exclusion zone is now in place around it. Politicians wrote to Chris Grayling yesterday, following a meeting of MPs and MSPs from across the region in Dingwall. Among its signatories are MSP Kate Forbes, and MPs Drew Hendry and Angus MacNeil, who say having one ETV covering the whole of Scotland is “utterly inadequate and unacceptable”. Their letter reads: “The recent incident involving the Transocean Winner oil rig clearly demonstrates how utterly inadequate and unacceptable the current provision of ETVs north of the Border are. The politicians’ fears are being echoed by two pressure groups. Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) and KIMO International (a local authority organisation working to protect the marine environment) say they are alarmed at the grounding of the rig near Carloway, on the west side of Lewis. They have called for all shipments of nuclear waste on this route through the Minches to be halted until the outcome of this incident are fully known and understood. Local councillor Norman McDonald, who sits on both groups, said: “The damage this potentially preventable accident could cause is of great concern here in the Western Isles of Scotland. “It is clear evidence of the real need to restore the emergency towing vessel to Stornoway and of the ongoing risk around transporting hazardous materials through such treacherous waters. I believe the transporting of Dounreay’s waste to Sellafield through this channel should be halted now as a matter of some urgency.” NFLA Scotland convener Bill Butler added: “What if the grounding had actually been of the ship transporting nuclear waste from Dounreay to Sellafield? If it had taken 19 hours for an emergency tow vessel to get to the scene then the environmental impact would be of real concern. “NFLA has been urging NDA to end such shipments for some time, as we believe they are unnecessary with the waste rather remaining in Dounreay in safe storage.”
The National 17th Aug 2016 read more »
NFLA 16th Aug 2016 read more »