FORTH Ports’ environmental responsibilities cannot be fulfilled if the transfer of oil between ships off the coast of Methil goes ahead, two Fife MSPs have claimed.

The private company, which acts as the harbour authority, appeared before the Scottish Parliament’s environment and rural development committee recently as petitions against the proposals were considered.

During the discussions, the firm—which stands to gain around £6 million a year if the plans are approved—stated that it took its environmental responsibilities so seriously that the transfer would not go ahead if environmental studies showed Forth Ports would be contravening their environmental obligations.

But Central Fife MSP Christine May and Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell both believe that the risks of any potential pollution incident in the Forth far outweigh the benefits that transfers may bring.

“Having heard the company giving evidence, I am convinced that neither the paltry number of new jobs, none of which looks likely to come to Methil or the local area, nor the risk to the environment justifies this proposal going ahead,” Mrs May stressed.

“Indeed, I am now convinced that the environmental responsibilities of Forth Parts cannot be fulfilled if they do allow this activity. This is a clear case of their environmental duties being in direct conflict with their commercial wishes.

“From their own assurances given during evidence, the environment wins and so they should reject this application now.”

Agreeing that an environmental disaster should be avoided at all costs, Mark Ruskell MSP, Green speaker on the environment, called on Scottish ministers to tighten up the laws governing oil transfers in the Forth sooner rather than later.

Though the Executive and its advisers Scottish Natural Heritage can influence the decision, ultimate power on whether or not transfers go ahead still lies with Forth Ports.

“The proposals could go ahead before ministers have got their act together and tightened up the laws so that publicly elected politicians—not a profit-seeking company—have ultimate power,” Mr Ruskell warned.

Charles Hammond, group chief executive of Forth Ports plc, last week made it clear to the petitions committee that it would not proceed with the transfers if environmental studies warned against them.

“We take our role as guardians of the estuary very seriously, that’s why no final decision has been made at this point in time on the project,” he said.