Shipping Minister hears tug plea

Representatives of the UK Emergency Towing Vessel Task Group met with the UK Shipping Minister, Mike Penning In Inverness today (Monday) to discuss the conclusions of the Group’s campaign for the retention of all ETVs in UK waters.

The meeting was arranged, at the request of the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, and discussion was focused on the contents of his response to a plea from The Highland Council Leader Councillor Michael Foxley, Chairman of the Task Group, that the contracts for the 4 UK ETVs be continued for six months beyond their current planned contract expiry at the end of September, this year. 

Mr Hammond said in his letter that the Government’s position remained that state provision of ETVs did not represent the correct use of taypayers’ money and that ship salvage should be a commercial matter between a ship’s operator and the salvor.

He indicated he would be willing to consider a short extension to the contract for the ETV service in the Minches, based in Stornoway, if he could satisfy himself that a credible proposal to secure funding for the ETV, from parties outside of his department, existed.  An extension would provide interim cover until that funding plan was finalised. 

Councillor Michael Foxley was joined by fellow Task Group member,  Councillor Angus Campbell, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and Councillor Jim Foubister from Orkney Council as well as a representative the Local authorities International Environmental Organisation at the meeting.  They stressed that it was essential to retain ETV coverage for the Highlandsand Islands in the absence of any commercial alternatives and that lead responsibility for this had to rest with the UK Government. 

Councillor Foxley said: “I remain optimistic  that we can retain an ETV service in the Highlands and Islands.  We will be lobbying Highland and Islands MPs, MSPs, the Scottish Government and the UK Defence Secretary and the UK Treasury over the next few weeks to put the funding in place.  It is vital that we retain this crucial service in the Highlands and Islands to safeguard our shipping and coastline.”