Press Release
13
SEPTEMBER 2006
OIL
POLLUTION - BAYHEAD
Following
reports this morning from members of the public
regarding an oil slick in the Inner Harbour ,
Stornoway Port Authority staff were deployed to
carry out a clean-up operation.
The
Harbour Master declared a Tier 1 Response, effectively
engaging only Port Authority personnel and resources
to best effect for recovery of the oil.
The
Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the Environment
Agency were immediately informed as to the location
and extent of the oil pollution.
The
source of the oil slick is not readily apparent,
though it is most likely to have been discharged
from vessels in Stornoway's Inner Harbour .
The
Tier 1 clean-up took some three hours, after which
it was estimated that 80% of the oil had been
recovered.
Commenting,
Harbour Master, Captain Torquil Macleod stated
"Despite the best efforts of the Port Authority
to improve the marine environment in the Harbour
Area, it seems a core element are still intent
on polluting the waters with little regard for
the consequences of their actions. We are working
closely with the Environment Agency and the Maritime
& Coastguard Agency to counter this problem,
and it is only a matter of time before we put
together a sustainable case for prosecution".
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