The two emergency tugs operated by the Maritine and Coastguard Agency and based in Scotland’s northern waters – at Stornoway and Kirkwall-Lerwick, have had a second stay of execution.
Already given a temporary continuation following the Westminster government’s settled mind to cut them as part of its spending revisions, their service has now been extended until March 2012.
After this time, the oil and gas industry is to deploying its own chartered tugs in emergencies off the Northern Isles.
This may sound a good deal and while it may be better than nothing,it could also amount to nothing at all.
These wold not be dedicated boats. They are boats with duties to do for which they are chartered.
There can be no guarantee that these private sector tugs would be free to answer an emergency on the difficult waters to the north. if they are already committed to a necessary industrial operation when a Mayday comes in, they may well not be in any position to respond.
What oil industry vessels are going to be available in the Minch?
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Exactly. And how long would it take them to get there?
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JP Knight’s vessel “Anglian Princess”, which I think was one of the previously-contracted ETV’s, is reported to have arrived in Rotterdam today 22 Dec, painted (if I trust my source) in “civilian” colours and not in the ETV colours previously used.
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