Emergency Towing Vessel - Contract Extension

The Leader of the Highland Council gave a cautious welcome to the news of the retention of the Orkney ETV:

“I am very pleased that the UK Government has recognised that there is an ongoing need to support a dedicated Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) beyond 2016.  We have been working closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency over the past year to make the case for the continuation and enhancement of the ETV service and I am very grateful to them for the genuinely collaborative approach they have taken.  I have been told to expect a letter and a formal announcement by the Minister for Transport in the next 24hours and I am very keen to learn the details of the new arrangements. I will be able to comment further following that.”