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The Maritime and Coastguard Agency say that the large number of fully laden oil tankers anchored in bays around the South West pose no `threat to the marine environment.'
The MCA were responding to a query from the Celtic League which has also written to the EU on the issue.
The MCA say they continue to monitor the situation and that emergency towing facilities are available should an incident occur (see footnote). The MCA letter is set out below:
"Dear Mr Moffatt
Thank you for your letter of 30 April sent to Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Transport, about fully laden tankers `Iying up' in anchorages around the United Kingdom. Your letter has been passed to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to reply.
We are aware of this situation. The tankers do not present any risks to general navigation and neither are they currently a threat to the marine environment.
The vessels have not been "laid up" at anchor. "Laid up" has a specific meaning relating to vessels that down man and shut down systems; this would clearly be unacceptable for a vessel at anchor. Anchored vessels must be maintained in a fully operational state. Tankers must comply with internationally agreed safety and pollution prevention standards under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
We monitor the UK Pollution Control Zone using our available resources, which include Automatic Identification System (AIS), routine surveillance flights and communication networks. AIS allows us to monitor not only shipping movement but also the anchorage activity.
Our equipment used to control the spread of pollution and for use in clean up operations on the shoreline is stockpiled at Milford Haven, Liverpool and Perth and would be underway within two hours. In addition to four dedicated Emergency Towing Vessels in the United Kingdom we can use the Coastguard Agreement on Salvage and Towage (CAST) to call upon the services of one or more of the 92 tugs, based in ports and harbours throughout the UK and on immediate notice to respond.
The UK is party to a number of international agreements which provide for the sharing of information, for example as one of the contracting parties to the Bonn Agreement. Matters such as this are discussed as required at these forums.
I hope this reply is helpful and answers the questions that you raised. Yours sincerely
Neil Chapman Environmental Scientist Advisor"
NB: Interestingly the `dedicated Emergency Towing Vessels' referred to were brought into service over a decade ago. The Celtic League (via AGM resolutions) specifically called for this measure to be introduced and we lobbied the UK government and International Maritime Organisation on the issue. Sadly the UK only moved on the issue after several serious polution incidents had occurred.
See related articles on Celtic News at:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
09/05/09
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues.
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