Tanker Traffic in the Minch
I chaired an excellent meeting of the joint Working Party with Highland Council. We had the chair of the Minch working group (a very senior civil servant in the DoT) along with the MCA, the Coastguard and Comhairle officers.
In light of the MEHRA announcement, there was concern about the protection of the Minches and the west coast of the Hebrides from oil tankers.
Thanks to intensive lobbying, and very hard work by the two Councils, the DoT are to recommend to the International Maritime Organisation that new traffic separation rules will apply in the Minch. Along with the AIS monitoring system in the Coastguard offices this will allow much better control over the tanker (and other) traffic.
The best news was that Deep Water Route off the west coast is being proposed to be narrowed, by moving the eastern limit one mile westward. Subject to the deep water survey that will be undertaken over the coming years, there may be further movement westward. This will allow more time in case of accident, and is an excellent interim step forward.
In light of the MEHRA announcement, there was concern about the protection of the Minches and the west coast of the Hebrides from oil tankers.
Thanks to intensive lobbying, and very hard work by the two Councils, the DoT are to recommend to the International Maritime Organisation that new traffic separation rules will apply in the Minch. Along with the AIS monitoring system in the Coastguard offices this will allow much better control over the tanker (and other) traffic.
The best news was that Deep Water Route off the west coast is being proposed to be narrowed, by moving the eastern limit one mile westward. Subject to the deep water survey that will be undertaken over the coming years, there may be further movement westward. This will allow more time in case of accident, and is an excellent interim step forward.
No comments:
Post a Comment