THE Shipping Minister, Lord Caithness, said yesterday that the
Government had done a considerable amount to improve safety around
Shetland's coastline since the Braer oilspill.
Speaking on the anniversary of the tanker grounding, Lord Caithness
defended the Government's record, and said he was surprised it had been
criticised as a ''learn nothing, do nothing'' Government by Shetland and
Orkney MP Jim Wallace.
''People do know we've done a lot and we are still doing a lot,'' he
said. ''We encouraged the shipping industry to produce a code of
practice for all their vessels. We then made representations to the
International Maritime Organisation to change the areas to be avoided
around the Shetlands, and that has been done.
''There are areas to be avoided around Orkney Islands and Fair Isle.
Those are new. There is also going to be a full survey of the Fair Isle
Channel for recommended routes this coming year.''
Lord Caithness urged islanders: ''Where tankers do break the exclusion
zone, please tell me and I will follow it up directly with the countries
involved.''
He could not stop ships using the Fair Isle Channel because it was an
international sea passage.
''In laymen's terms, there are international rights of passage around
Shetland, and around all our coast, just as there are around every other
country that has a coastline.''
An action group, set up after the Braer disaster, was last night
disbanded after just seven people turned up to an oilspill anniversary
meeting.
Secretary of the South Mainland Action Group John Johnston said they
could not continue without the support of the community.
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