There are renewed calls for an emergency tug to be based in Stornoway, as well as the one stationed in Orkney which the UK Government this week agreed to finance.
It is claimed that in the event of an emergency in the Minches or elsewhere on the west coast, it would take too long for the emergency towing vessel (ETV) to travel from the Northern Isles.
There had been fears that funding the last coastguard ETV might be be discontinued, but UK Transport Minister Robert Goodwill announced this week the "absolutely critical" tug Herakles, would be funded for five years.
Following Lord Donaldson’s inquiry into the sinking of the Braer tanker on Shetland, four ETVs were introduced in 1994, one each in: the Dover Straits, the south west approaches, the Minches and around Shetland. But the government moved to cancel the contracts by the end of 2011.
Following a robust campaign led by the local authorities in the Highlands and Islands, ministers agreed to reintroduce a single government-funded ETV in Scottish waters, based in Orkney until at least 2015. This was followed by a six month extension
Western Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil said while he welcomed this week's extension of the Orkney tug's funding, another ETV was still needed in Stornoway. He said Mr Goodwill had concluded one ETV would be sufficient based on the last five years, but he warned: “The UK Government are taking a cost cutting risk and have no insurance policy against a situation like the Braer disaster which might happen once in 25 years, once in 50 years or once in 100 years but would have a devastating impact on the Scottish coastline.”
A statement from independent Highland councillors called from the same: "Hopefully, the UK Government will give the same fragile nature status to the west coast as the north coast and look to secure a second vessel stationed in the Minch."
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