Restoration of second emergency tug urged after storm incident

Calls have been renewed for the restoration of Scotland’s second emergency tug after a cargo ship was left drifting in a storm off the Western Isles last week.

The Norwegian MV3 Fame lost power following an engine failure off Taransay last Thursday.

The Coastguard’s emergency towing vessel (ETV) Ievoli Black reached the stricken vessel the following day to tow her to safety. Kimo, an environmental organisation representing local authorities across northern Europe, said Scotland had had only one Orkney-based ETV since the second was scrapped last year.

A spokesman said: “The incident is of real concern, highlighting Scotland’s insufficient ETV provision.

“The grounding of the afflicted vessel was avoided solely by chance.

“A total of 16.5 hours elapsed between the MV Fame’s distress call and the commence- ment of the vessel’s tow to port. Most European nations set the standard for ETV response time at a maximum of four hours.

“Kimo believes ETVS provide essential risk mitigation in the protection of our coastlines from pollution from maritime incidents.

“The cost of maintaining ETVS will be repaid many times over if they are successful in preventing just a single vessel disablement becoming a major environmental disaster.”