In its newly published risk assessment of the firth, the MCA also
says it believes safety could be enhanced by improved written guides
for masters of vessels who do not speak or understand English.
Along the with the Firth of Forth and the northern channel of the
Minch, the Pentland Firth is Scotland’s busiest seaway and
acknowledged as one of the most treacherous stretches of the UK
coastline.
Oil tankers use Flotta – Britain’s largest deep-water port –
while a lot of cargo vessels use the firth in transit between the east
and west coasts of the UK or from the western Atlantic to the Baltic
states and Russia.
This is in addition to its routine daily use by fishing vessels,
ferries and pleasure craft.
The number of vessels plying the firth each week has risen steadily
from 108 in 1994 to 126 in 1999 to an estimated 140 at present. A
recent survey found over a fifth were carrying a hazardous cargo, such
as oil or chemicals.
The MCA notes that while the oil and gas piped into Flotta is
declining, Foinaven and other oil fields have opened up, with more due
to come on stream shortly. In addition, there are plans to build a
major container transshipment terminal in Scapa Flow and new yachting
marinas in Orkney.
The MCA review highlights half a dozen potential collision points
where frequently used routes meet and cross – one to the north-west
of Dunnet Head and the others on the eastern approaches to the firth.
It states: "Given the present traffic density, this does not
yet pose a significant problem but if the traffic increases at its
present rate, these areas might require internationally approved
regulation at some time in the future."
The MCA acknowledges that a future routeing scheme could cause
difficulties for local boats and ferries which often take courses at
acute angles across the firth and close inshore to counter adverse
weather and tidal streams. It also accepts there is not enough space
to enforce an "exclusion zone" to create two opposing lanes
of traffic in the deep but relatively narrow channel between Stroma
and Swona.
One clear-cut recommendation it makes is to help minimise problems
caused by non-English speaking masters and crews.
It states: "Passing planning advice can be confusing for those
navigators who do not have a good grasp of English and there is a
perceived need for both simplified guides to areas such as the
Pentland Firth and a review of publications in general."
