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Fife Lib Dems unite to oppose Ship to Ship Oil Transfer
May 11, 2006 12:40 PM
Fife's four Lib Dem MPs and MSPs have joined forces to speak out against the proposal for Ship to Ship Oil Transfer off the Fife coast.
MPs, Menzies Campbell and Willie Rennie, and MSPs, Iain Smith and Andrew Arbuckle, say that the operations would risk "serious damage to environmentally-significant waters and coastlines."
The Liberal Democrats made the call in a response to the consultation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the proposal. The deadline for responses is today.
Andrew Arbuckle, Lib Dem Regional MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife said:
"Fife Liberal Democrats are opposed to the proposals for Ship to Ship Oil Transfers in the Firth of Forth. Although the approval of the revised and amplified oil spill contingency plan submitted by Forth Ports Plc would bring benefits to the company and therefore the UK economy we believe the risks outweigh the benefits. The proposed operations would take place on an extremely large scale in unpredictable waters and would risk doing serious damage to environmentally-significant waters and coastlines. We, therefore, believe the plan should be rejected."
Iain Smith, MSP for North East Fife, said:
"Ship to Ship Oil Transfers involve many inherent risks, such as manifold leaks or pipelines coming adrift or being blown apart. Additional problems could be caused by a mother ship dragging her anchor, the sudden onset of bad weather leading to pipe separation between vessels, or collision while berthing. It is vital that such transfers take place in more protected areas to cut down on the risk of a spill."
Menzies Campbell, MP for North East Fife said:
"The Forth Islands and Firth of Forth host over 300,000 pairs of breeding birds each year, including eider ducks, bar-tailed godwit and golden plover. The Isle of May is home to a breeding population of grey seals. We cannot put at risk the future of these habitats."
Willie Rennie, Lib Dem MP for Dunfermline and West Fife said:
"It is estimated that an oil spill on the Firth of Forth would cost at least £28 million to clear up. It would be the local councils who would have to pick up the tab. As well as long-lasting ecological damage to wildlife and habitats the fishing and tourism industries would be badly hit. It's a risk that Fife cannot afford to take."
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