Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01637 · Session 5

Ship-to-ship oil transfers and trust port accountability

Closed Submitted 18 Dec 2016 Environment & Energy
Signatures
43
2,087 online signatures with a country
Comments
242
Considered
7 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that environmental legislation in Scotland is sufficient to prevent ship-to-ship transfers of crude oil in environmentally sensitive locations, such as the Inner Moray Firth, and to enhance the accountability of trust port boards to their stakeholders.

What the petitioner did first

We have raised the issue with MSPs and MPs including John Finnie MSP, Mark Ruskell MSP, Kate Forbes MSP, Gail Ross MSP, Drew Hendry MP and Ian Blackford MP.

In addition, since a specific proposal for ship to ship transfers of crude oil at anchorages in the Inner Moray Firth within the boundary of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority was announced we have undertaken a wide variety of actions to oppose the proposal. This has included, but is not limited to,—
· Formation of a pressure group
· Organisation of public meetings in communities around the Inner Moray Firth
· Raising the issue through local media and online campaigning
· Responding to consultations
· Lobbying the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, and
· Engaging in discussions with relevant bodies and individuals such as SEPA, SNH, The Highland Council, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Prof Paul Thompson and RSPB Scotland.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 16 Mar 2017
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petition
    1 mention
  2. 2 May 2017
    Meeting of the Parliament
    Ship-to-ship Oil Transfers (Cromarty and Moray Firths)
    1 mention
  3. 22 Jun 2017
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petition
    1 mention
  4. 27 Jun 2019
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention
  5. 5 Dec 2019
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention
  6. 12 Nov 2020
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention
  7. 27 Jan 2021
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

2,087 online signatures
  1. Scotland1,393 66.7%
  2. United Kingdom341 16.3%
  3. England259 12.4%
  4. United States27 1.3%
  5. Wales15 0.7%
  6. Canada7 0.3%
  7. Slovenia6 0.3%
  8. New Zealand5 0.2%
  9. Germany5 0.2%
  10. Northern Ireland4 0.2%
  11. 16 other countries25 1.2%

Comments

242 comments, oldest first
242 comments · showing 1–50
  1. Greg Fullarton 20 Jan 2017
    This was wrong a decade ago in the Firth of Forth, the current plan in the Moray Firth is wrong. We need prevent our environment and economy being damaged by these ill thought out plans and ensure that Port are accountable to their stakeholders in the future and not themselves.
  2. Tom Forbes 20 Jan 2017
    We consider The Moray Firth as important as The Firth of Forth
  3. Mary Bowers 21 Jan 2017
    Protected species and SACs should not be exploited to fund business ventures in this way.
  4. Debbie Wartnaby 21 Jan 2017
    Please help us stop S2S transfers in the Moray Firth, a habitat rich in important wildlife. The environmental damage that will happen if something goes wrong is to terrifying to contemplate
  5. Iain Fairweather 21 Jan 2017
    The oil transfer process is not risk free. The environment and wildlife must be safeguarded. The tourism economy is threatened simply by the visual intrusion of tankers on the seascape, never mind the after effects of just the odd minor spill. Not worth the risk!
  6. Julie Campbell 21 Jan 2017
    The potential for a disaster is very high. We should be looking after our natural habitat as there isn't a lot left.
  7. Edward Andrews 21 Jan 2017
    There are two issues here. there is the environmental one about where it is proposed to have Ship to Ship Transfers.
    There is also a wider one about the constraints on the activities of a Trust Port and the behaviour of their officers.
  8. Ruth Darwin 21 Jan 2017
    This is a beautiful area which is extremely important environmentally. It is also an income for scotlands tourist industry. You wouldn't want it happening on your doorstop
  9. brian mckenzie 21 Jan 2017
    once again money is more important than the enjoyment so many people get from the wild life in the highlands .we are not going to let this happen it only takes 1 spill we had it with the brear
  10. Chris Wilmshurst 21 Jan 2017
    Please do not let them ruin the Moray Firth, the tourism,ecology and conservation.
  11. Lindsey Dickens 21 Jan 2017
    The Moray Firth is such an important area for marine wildlife and tourism which is important for employment. We cannot risk destroying the area.
  12. Patsy Goodsir 21 Jan 2017
    Time the powers that be started LISTENING to the people who really care about their environment and our precious and unique wildlife
  13. Kara 21 Jan 2017
    Our marine wildlife is so precious and already suffers enough disruption from the ships and industry we have now on our seas, there is a safe alternative at the Nigg jetty where STS transfers have taken place for the last 30 years
    - safeguard those jobs. I want future generations to know we realised our environment is priceless and protected it against those that seek short term financial profit against the wishes of the people who love our land and seas.
  14. Frances Faulds 21 Jan 2017
    Please put an end to this madness now!
  15. Paul Chaplin 21 Jan 2017
    I believe that allowing ship to ship transfer in the Moray Firth runs the very real risk of destroying a fantastic marine habitat and a visitors haven for years to come following a leak. It does not make economic sense for the wider community only for CFPA and they should be made to listen to local people who would be affected by their potential actions .
  16. Karen 21 Jan 2017
    Ship-to-ship just a disaster waiting to happen. Definitely not worth the risk.
  17. Yvonne Laurance 21 Jan 2017
    An oil spill in Cromarty Firth would be a disaster for wildlife
  18. Leslie Mitchell 21 Jan 2017
    Any activity like ship to ship oil transfer, particularly in an area like the Moray Firth poses a danger to large communities of people whose livelihood depends on tourism, as any spillage would have a devastating and long lasting detrimental effect on the already fragile economy of the area. The Moray Firth area is already suffering from the effects of sewage pollution due to the dual affect of increased population and out of date sewerage treatment plants.
    The tidal flow of the Moray Firth is not sufficient to disperse the existing pollution levels being pumped into it. Oil transfers of any kind poses a risk of spillage and as sure as eggs is eggs, a spillage will happen. Who is going to "pick up the tab" when this happens??
    This area depends heavily on tourism. Tourists bring millions of £'s to the area. An oil spill in the Moray Firth would kill tourism and it would take years for this to recover.
    I have not even mentioned the effect a spill would have on the wildlife of the area but it goes without saying that an oilspill would have devastating consequences for the Dolphins, seabirds and fish of the area.
    Whoever came up with this bright idea of oil transfer in this area is devoid of all common sense. I doubt that it is even justified commercially.
  19. John Ross 21 Jan 2017
    I could probably write a small book on the reasons I'm utterly against this. ... here are a few... I fear oil pollution. The view will be ruined. Light pollution is a problem even now. Disturbance to dolphins etc etc etc
  20. Barbara A Keane 21 Jan 2017
    No ship to ship oil transfers
  21. David brown 21 Jan 2017
    Hope you succeed our wild life is precious.
  22. Isobel McAllister 21 Jan 2017
    Penny pinching can't be allowed to endanger the environment. There is no planet B.
  23. Mary Chaplin 21 Jan 2017
    We own a B&B if this goes ahead it will damage our growing tourist industry
  24. Councillor Craig fraser 21 Jan 2017
    The coastal communities of the Cromarty and Moray Firths have come together to oppose this OPEN WATER AT SEA ship to ship oil transfer license application. This application if allowed to proceed unchallenged benefits no-one other than the PoCF. Many local environmental tour enterprises will be irreparably damaged and even forced out of business. This also includes B&B's, hotels, guest houses, pubs, local stores and souvenir shops. I encourage as many people to sign this petition this is the wrong plan in the wrong place.
  25. Helen Howis 21 Jan 2017
    Ship to ship tranfers were not allowed in the Forth so this should be the same
  26. Julian Fryer 21 Jan 2017
    Full support
  27. Val Parry 21 Jan 2017
    a total obscenity to even consider an act such as this
  28. janice fraser 21 Jan 2017
    ship to ship oil transferes pose a threat to local wild life
  29. David Shepherd 21 Jan 2017
    Transfer of oil in the Firth poses an unacceptable risk in such a valuable biodiversity area.
  30. Terry Fraser 21 Jan 2017
    This proposed plan is wrong. Study the area and see how dangerous this could threaten our wild life e.g. Dolphins, seals etc. It will affect local businesses to the point they will need to close. Tourism will disappear etc etc etc!! Please stop this happening it's to risky!
  31. Iona Hampson 21 Jan 2017
    I strongly disagree with the proposed ship to ship transfer
  32. Charlie Black 21 Jan 2017
    Too risky to wildlife and fish in the Moray Firth. Nairn beach would suffer too in an oil spill with devastating effects on tourism.
  33. Colin Matheson 21 Jan 2017
    An I'll conceived scheme that has little regard for the environment or those living next to the Moray Firth
  34. Alison Footitt 21 Jan 2017
    Please save our coastline.
  35. Valery Kirby 21 Jan 2017
    All the points put forward by Cromarty Rising have shown that this proposal is absolutely wrong.
  36. susan laird 22 Jan 2017
    No ship to ship oil transfer please.
  37. M.Davies 22 Jan 2017
    There is enough pollution in the sea already. The devastation that an oil spillage brings needs to be avoided at all costs not given rise to more "accidents" we have enough endangered species without letting this become a regular threat to already diminishing species in what was once a beautiful balanced environment. let alone the Threat to Local economies that are reliant on clean oceans
  38. Hamish Clark 22 Jan 2017
    Any risk, even if it is a very small risk is not worth taking in such an environmentally sensitive area.
    Nairn is a town which is well know for its beautiful beaches and is popular with tourists which is very important to the local economy. To have huge tankers sitting in the inner Moray Firth would spoil the views and also the noise from their engines would be annoying. The tankers which sit there presently can be heard on still nights and interrupts our sleep.
  39. Linda Bisset 22 Jan 2017
    Ship to ship oil transfers should not take place in environmentally sensitive locations as it could pose risks to wildlife and local economies
  40. john robertson 22 Jan 2017
    This proposal of ship to ship transfers is ludicrous !
    Why would anyone in their right mind put a beautiful environment at risk of devastation ? Is corporate and personal greed more important ??
  41. Spencer Julian 22 Jan 2017
    The whole of the Moray coast will suffer due to the direction of the ocean currents if there was a fuel spillage or leak.
  42. Maria Rushton 22 Jan 2017
    Oil travels. Any spills affect all of us.
  43. David freeman 22 Jan 2017
    Need to stop this sort of behaviour by self appointed gods, it's time to bring an end to these self effacing self interest, bodies from not having to answer to anyone in particular and a cross party board of MPs in parliament approving the selection and appointments of these directors and chairman they have far to much power for self enhancements and for the benefit of their friends. Their pay scales and bonuses should also be set by an outside body with the books for these organisations coming under similar oversight.
  44. Councillor Craig fraser 22 Jan 2017
    It has now been confirmed that the PoCF has been directed to withdraw their current ship to ship (at sea) oil transfer license application and submit a new one. I respectfully suggest that as this license benefits no-one the PoCF should take notice of the experts, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and the communities of the Cromarty and Moray Firth that have been opposing the application for over 12 months and withdraw the application totally. I would like to think that common sense would prevail and the PoCF drop the proposal completely. In the absence of any statement to the contrary I would urge objectors to continue opposing the application.
  45. stacey gorman 22 Jan 2017
    Mammals-Dolphins are the 2nd most intelligent animal on the planet. Why would you endanger the only ones we have in Scotland? For Oil? Selfish if you ask me...
  46. William fraser milne 22 Jan 2017
    I do not want this to happen to our coast line. As we have a lot of wildlife around about us. And we should protect them as much as possible.
  47. Eleanor Tilley 22 Jan 2017
    We need to protect the dolphins and other wildlife
  48. Chloe 22 Jan 2017
    There is too much wildlife in the area
  49. Danny 22 Jan 2017
    The wildlife needs protection
  50. Chloe 22 Jan 2017
    The wildlife should be protected