The modern design of cargo-bearing ships could mean a new role for the

proud old port of Alloa -- but first there are one or two things to be

straightened out . . .

ONE of Scotland's oldest harbours is struggling to come back to life

-- against the background of a dispute between Scotland's biggest port

authority and a Glasgow-based shipbroking firm.

Attempts by Kerr Chartering to bring ships back to the tiny

Clackmannan harbour of Alloa have been stymied by the actions of the

Forth Port Authority, who have used their powers to close the river to

vessels west of Kincardine Bridge.

Alloa first appeared in the annals of Scottish history in 1502 when

King James IV paid for the victualling of a vessel there.

The wharf remained in use until recent times and it was the existence

of Alloa Harbour which caused the Kincardine Bridge to be built in 1936

as a swing bridge.

In the eighties, however, shipping traffic dwindled. In 1980 the

bridgemaster's log showed that the bridge had been opened 19 times to

allow ships to pass upriver.

However the swing facility of the bridge was discontinued in 1988

although Christiani Nielson, the civil engineering firm who had bought

the harbour from the Port Authority in the seventies, continued to bring

tugs and barges upriver to transport goods.

In its heyday Alloa was a busy port and exported tobacco brought

through the Clyde from America to Europe. Later it exported coal and

grain. In the mid-sixties one ship a week still sailed the six miles

upriver past Grangemouth. There was also a tradition of shipbuilding:

during the Second World War tank-landing craft used in the Normandy

landings were built at Alloa.

However the harbour went into decline, partly because of the existence

of the National Dock Labour Scheme which made many small ports

uneconomic.

The scheme was abolished in 1989, and although Kincardine Bridge no

longer opened to allow river traffic to pass through, modern-designed

ships carrying between 2000 and 3000 tonnes were able to pass under it.

Geoff Prowse, a director of Kerr Chartering, explains: ''These latest

designed ships have not only a shallow draught but also a low profile in

the water. They are specifically designed to penetrate inland waterways.

''Obviously they are sea-going ships, which means that where before

barges would bring goods down rivers such as the Rhine to a port near

the sea, these ships can carry the cargo to its final destination.

''In addition, they can carry much larger cargoes which makes them

economic,''

Kerr Chartering, a wholly-owned subsidiary of John S. Braid, the

Glasgow shipping agents, spotted the opportunity to reopen Alloa Harbour

and leased the facility from Christiani Nielsen.

Says Geoff Prowse: ''We believe we can use the harbour to import coal,

raw materials for local factories, animal feeding, and fertilisers.

''Cereal, rape seed, and coal could be exported through the port and

about 150,000 tonnes a year could be handled at the existing single

wharf facility at Alloa.''

In 1991 Kerr Chartering carried out remedial work to the wharf and

began to make plans to bring vessels upriver. Last year arrangements

were made for the cargo ship the Kava Sound to pick up a cargo of coal

from the port.

However Forth Ports plc sought and were granted an interim interdict

to prevent Kerr Chartering from ''causing'' any vessel to navigate west

of Kincardine Bridge. The Glasgow company succeeded in having the

interim interdict lifted. The dispute centres around the question of the

provision of buoys and pilots to assist the safe navigation of the

six-mile stretch of river.

Forth Ports claim it would cost #45,000 to provide the navigational

aids required and want Kerr Chartering to underwrite this cost.

Following the lifting of the interdict Forth Port Authority issued a

''General Direction'' to close the waters west of Kincardine Bridge to

vessels.

This action has been criticised by the Chamber of Shipping who have

told Forth Ports that the direction should be withdrawn.

In a letter to Forth Ports it said: ''We believe that Forth Ports plc

should take immediate steps to place suitable buoys between Kincardine

Bridge and Alloa and the provision of licensed pilots in fulfilment of

your statutory duties so that the public right of navigation in this

part of your harbour may be exercised in safety.''

On the question of ''a deposit or guarantee'' to underwrite the

capital cost of the buoys, the Chamber of Shipping told Forth Ports:

''It is the ship, its owner, or his agent who are liable for such

charges, not a terminal operation.''

In a hard-hitting statement the Chamber described the actions taken by

Forth Ports as being ''vexatious and an unjustified interference with

the public right of navigation.''

The Chamber called on Forth Ports to ''fulfil its statutory

responsibilities by the provision of navigational facilities necessary

to permit safe navigation to the port of Alloa, as there is a clear

demand from commercial shipping to use those facilities. Such a course

would make the proposed General Direction unnecessary.''

To date Forth Ports have not lifted the General Direction and the

attempts by Kerr Chartering to reopen Alloa as a port appear to have

reached stalemate. Geoff Prowse is, however, determined to battle on.

''We have people interested in using the facility at Alloa,'' he says.

''When Forth Ports were privatised they did not buy the river.''

To date Forth Ports have not lifted the General Direction and the

attempts by Kerr Chartering to reopen Alloa as a port appear to have

reached stalemate. Geoff Prowse is, however, determined to battle on.

''We have people interested in using the facility at Alloa,'' he says.

''When Forth Ports were privatised they did not buy the river.''

Yesterday, however, a spokesman for Forth Ports said: ''The commercial

undertaking we seek is to cover quite substantial investment by Forth

Ports and is no different to normal custom and practice in the industry.

''Given that this estuary handles up to 22,500 shipping movements a

year, with a large proportion of hazardous cargo, we cannot allow

uncontrolled shipping in the waterway.''