With the change of Government in Scotland it would seem that League fears that ship to ship oil transfers that were proposed to take place in the Firth of Forth in Scotland by SPT Marine Services could indeed be allayed.

The new Scottish Government, as of May 4th, have asked Forth Ports authority to put on hold plans to use the estuary for the transferal of oil between ships, a process that carries a large environmental risk through the spillage of oil. The Firth of Forth is not only an area that is commonly used by water sport enthusiasts, but is also an environmentally sensitive area.

In a letter to the previous Scottish Executive earlier this year, the General Secretary of the League pointed out that if an oil spill took place in the Forth on the scale that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 1995, where 35 000 tonnes of oil leaked into the water, there would be devastating consequences. The possibility of such an accident happening is made even more apparent when it is considered that the company responsible for the Gulf of Mexico spill was the very same one that made the application for such transfers on the Forth.

In a move that has the full support of the League, the new Scottish SNP Environment Minister Richard Lochhead, has requested talks with Westminster to pass new legislation that would allow Scotland to give Scotland extra powers to block future proposals. Asking for the Ports authority for more time for the new Executive to consider the plans will mean that the risks to the Forth coastal and marine environment is properly and duly considered. However, the Scottish Green Party co-leader urged Mr Lochhead to make a decision on the matter rapidly in what he considered to be a "very urgent situation".

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

27/05/07

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