Petitioner: Greg Fullarton on behalf of Cromarty Rising
Status:
Closed
Date Lodged:
17 February 2017
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.
Summary:
16 March 2017: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the UK Harbour Masters’ Association. Link to Official Report 16 March 2017
22 June 2017: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. Link to the Official Report 22 June 2017
27 June 2019: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment. Link to Official Report of Meeting 27 June 2019
5 December 2019: The Committee agreed to invite the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands to give oral evidence at a future meeting. Link to Official Report of Meeting 5 December 2019
12 November 2020: The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard alongside forthcoming written evidence from the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, and others with an interest in the petition, at a future meeting. Link to Official Report of Meeting 12 November 2020
27 January 2021: Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the licencing of ship-to-ship transfers is reserved to the UK Government and the Committee does not have a remit to intervene in relation to the specific application in the Cromarty Forth; and evidence provided to the Committee notes a low number of complaints against trust ports in Scotland and open engagement and dialogue exists with stakeholder groups, including the nine communities that border the Cromarty Firth. The Committee also agreed to write to the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands. Link to Official Report of Meeting 27 January 2021
Written Submissions:
- Do you believe that environmental legislation should prevent ship-to-ship oil transfers in environmentally sensitive locations?
- Have you been involved in campaigning against a proposed transfer or seeking to hold a trust port board to account? What are your experiences of these things?
- Do you agree that ship-to-ship oil transfers pose risks to wildlife and local economies?