Tug drivel (Charles Gallagher)

I listened to isles MP Alistair Carmichael on Tuesday and I have never heard such drivel in all my life. He seems to be living in that Tory cloud cuckoo land that believes the oil sector or other private company will fill the gap.

Well here is the real world Alistair. The oil companies do not keep “ocean capable tugs” on station in the North Sea.

What they do have is a number of support vessels with a “towing” capability. However, I cannot for the life of me see the oil companies allowing one of these vessels going charging off to the Minches in a winter gale when their own platforms are at risk. Of course I don’t for one minute think that they would ignore a closer distress call.

Lord Donaldson after the Braer grounding said that powerful ocean salvage tugs were required in the Western and Northern Isles and these were subsequently provided. I might also add that Donaldson dismissed the idea that “harbour tugs” could take on the role of “ocean tugs”.

No Alistair, one tug is not good enough and no matter how hard you try and be excited about it, it simply will not do. Your ConDem administration finds money easy enough when it is to place SAM missiles on London tower blocks to “protect” the Olympics or provide tax cuts for millionnaires!

Charles L Gallagher
Tigh Na Mara,
Sullom.