Update: Toxic Feed Barge Salvaged Off Portree Heading to Loch Carron & then Ardyne (or maybe Kishorn)!

 

 

 

 

A Freedom of Information disclosure emailed on 8 December 2022 by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency sheds more light on the sinking and salvage of a 'toxic' and 'explosive' GaelForce feed barge off Portree. 

 

From: Stan Woznicki <Stan.Woznicki@mcga.gov.uk>
Date: Thu, Dec 8, 2022 at 12:20 PM
Subject: FOI ID 4103 – Portree Fish Feed Barge
To: salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Cc: FOI <FOI@mcga.gov.uk>, HM Coastguard <HMCoastguard@mcga.gov.uk>, Sarah Walker <Sarah.Walker@mcga.gov.uk>

Dear Mr Staniford

Please find attached the MCA’s response to your most recent FOI/EIR requests of the 4th and 8th November 2022.

Due file size there will be two accompanying Enclosure 1s, the first with this email and the second in a further email.

Yours,

MCA FOI review reply 6 Dec 2022 #5 email

 

 

 

MCA FOI review reply 6 Dec 2022 #2 letterhead

MCA FOI review reply 6 Dec 2022 #3

MCA FOI review reply 6 Dec 2022 #4

MCA FOI review reply 6 Dec 2022 #1 Strome salvage then Ardyne corrected

 

 

 

Download the MCA's letter dated 6 December 2022 online here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today (9 December 2022), $camon $cotland wrote to Scottish Ministers, SEPA and the MCA requesting further information on the 'decontamination' and 'remediation' of the toxic feed barge:

 

 

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 9, 2022 at 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: Letter to Scottish Ministers re. "explosive" feed barge off Portree
To: <scottish.ministers@gov.scot>, Stan Woznicki <Stan.Woznicki@mcga.gov.uk>, HM Coastguard <HMCoastguard@mcga.gov.uk>, Sarah Walker <Sarah.Walker@mcga.gov.uk>, Media <publicrelations@sepa.org.uk>
Cc: <public.relations@mcga.gov.uk>, <infoline@mcga.gov.uk>, <ian.blackford.mp@parliament.uk>, John Finlayson (Councillor) <john.finlayson.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, Calum Munro (Councillor) <calum.munro.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, Drew Millar (Councillor) <Drew.Millar.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, Ruraidh Stewart (Councillor) <Ruraidh.Stewart.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, <chief.executive@highland.gov.uk>, <SFRS.Media@firescotland.gov.uk>, <sar.response@mcga.gov.uk>, <marinepollution@nature.scot>, <ms.spillresponse@gov.scot>, <hpt.highland@nhs.scot>, <murdo.macaulay@mca.gov.uk>, <n.dundeecontrol@firescotland.gov.uk>, <navigation@nlb.org.uk>, <zone36@hmcg.gov.uk>, <enquiries@crownestatescotland.com>, Forbes K (Kate), MSP <Kate.Forbes.msp@parliament.scot>, <scc.mail@sepa.org.uk>, spillresponse@marlab.ac.uk <spillresponse@marlab.ac.uk>, <alert@maib.gov.uk>, <emergency.planning@highland.gov.uk>, <HQ_counterpollution@mcga.gov.uk>, <HQ_SOSrep@mcga.gov.uk>, <ahsh@sepa.org.uk>, Pollard, Peter <peter.pollard@sepa.org.uk>

Further to $camon $cotland's letter dated 18 November 2022, could you please provide copies of any risks assessments detailing how Bakkafrost/Marine Masters plans to transport the salvaged GaelForce feed barge off Portree to Strome (located within the Loch Carron 'Marine Protection Area'/'Special Area of Conservation') and then to Ardyne?
 
Could you also please provide a copy of the salvage licence and any documentation relating to how Bakkafrost/Marine Masters plans to 'decontaminate' the Portree salmon farm?
 
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency disclosed various documents to $camon $cotland via FOI yesterday (8 December 2022) which included in a letter dated 6 December 2022 (see email below from Stan Woznicki of the MCA):
 
 
MCA FOI review reply 6 Dec 2022 #1 Strome salvage then Ardyne corrected

 

 

 

According to Marine Traffic (as of 8am this morning), the Matador 3 was sitting just off the Portree salmon farm (with a destination of Kishorn): https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:232244/zoom:14

 

Matador floating crane 9 December 2022 8am

 

 

 
 
As of 10.45am this morning, the Matador 3 had moved closed to the site with the Viking Saga now alongside (presumably this is where the contaminated water and feed is being offloaded):
 
 
Viking Saga 9 December 2022 10
 
 
$camon $cotland is aware that residents living alongside Loch Carron 'Marine Protected Area' are obviously worried about contaminated water and feed being discharged illegally into Loch Carron. 
 
Where is the contaminated water and feed from the Portree feed barge being discharged?  Does the discharge of contaminated water and feed require a licence? 
 
Further information on the barge salvage and 'remediation' would be much appreciated.
 
The MCA's FOI disclosure yesterday (8 December 2022) contained other interesting information – please see: Mowi's "totally appalling levels of safety, COPFS are going to prosecute" (says Maritime & Coastguard Agency in FOI disclosure)
 
 
Thanks,
 
Don Staniford
 
Director, $camon $cotland
 
 

 

 

 

The West Highland Free Press reported today (9 December 2022):

 

WHFP 9 December 2022 #3 masthead

WHFP 9 December 2022 #1

WHFP 9 December 2022 #2

 

 
UPDATE (11 December 2022):
 

 
 
Matador floating crane 11 December 2022 8am in Kenmore Bay Loch Torridon
 
 
 
 
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Dec 11, 2022 at 11:31 AM
Subject: Update re. "explosive" feed barge off Portree – now in Loch Torridon
To: <scottish.ministers@gov.scot>, Stan Woznicki <Stan.Woznicki@mcga.gov.uk>, HM Coastguard <HMCoastguard@mcga.gov.uk>, Sarah Walker <Sarah.Walker@mcga.gov.uk>, Media <publicrelations@sepa.org.uk>
Cc: Public Relations <public.relations@mcga.gov.uk>, <infoline@mcga.gov.uk>, Ian Blackford <ian.blackford.mp@parliament.uk>, John Finlayson (Councillor) <john.finlayson.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, Calum Munro (Councillor) <calum.munro.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, Drew Millar (Councillor) <Drew.Millar.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, Ruraidh Stewart (Councillor) <Ruraidh.Stewart.cllr@highland.gov.uk>, <chief.executive@highland.gov.uk>, <SFRS.Media@firescotland.gov.uk>, <sar.response@mcga.gov.uk>, <marinepollution@nature.scot>, <ms.spillresponse@gov.scot>, <hpt.highland@nhs.scot>, <murdo.macaulay@mca.gov.uk>, <n.dundeecontrol@firescotland.gov.uk>, <navigation@nlb.org.uk>, <zone36@hmcg.gov.uk>, <enquiries@crownestatescotland.com>, Forbes K (Kate), MSP <Kate.Forbes.msp@parliament.scot>, <scc.mail@sepa.org.uk>, spillresponse@marlab.ac.uk <spillresponse@marlab.ac.uk>, <alert@maib.gov.uk>, <emergency.planning@highland.gov.uk>, <HQ_counterpollution@mcga.gov.uk>, <HQ_SOSrep@mcga.gov.uk>, <ahsh@sepa.org.uk>, Pollard, Peter <peter.pollard@sepa.org.uk>
Further to Friday's questions on the ongoing salvage of Bakkafrost's feed barge (see below), have appropriate risk assessments and licences been issued for the ongoing 'decontamination' and 'remediation' (which has now moved away from Portree to Kenmore Bay in Loch Torridon not Strome in Loch Carron)?
 
According to Marine Traffic, the Matador 3 and Viking Saga are both now in Kenmore Bay in Loch Torridon: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:232244/zoom:13
 
As of 8am this morning (11 December 2022):
 
Matador floating crane 11 December 2022 8am in Kenmore Bay Loch Torridon
 
 
 
Has a risk assessment been carried out? Does the salvage operation have a licence?
 
 
And as of 11am this morning (11 December 2022) it seems that the Viking Saga is docked right next to the Matador 3 with the GaelForce feed barge on deck:
 
Viking Saga 11 December 2022 Kenmore Bay Loch Torridon

 
Is the Viking Saga now offloading contaminated water & feed from the salvaged GaelForce barge? Does Bakkafrost & Marine Masters (operators of the Matador 3) have a licence? Where is the contaminated cargo being discharged?
 
 
 
An update on the – potentially illegal – salvage operation would be much appreciated. 
 
What actions are the Scottish Government, UK Government via MCA and SEPA taking to ensure the ongoing salvage operation is legal and has zero environmental impact?
 
 
 

Thanks,

 
Don Staniford
 
Director, $camon $cotland
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
UPDATE – 12 December 2022:
 
 


 
Viking Saga 12 December 2022 Destination Fraserburgh
 
 

 
Matador floating crane 12 December 2022 6
 
 
 

 
Helen Rice into Kishorn with Matador 7
 
 
 

 
 
Kishorn break up
 
 
 

 
Matador floating crane 12 December 2022 2pm floating off Kishorn Carron all day
 
 
 
 
UPDATE – 13 December 2022: 
 

 
Matador floating crane 13 December 2022 7am still floating off Kishorn Carron
 
 
 
 
The Viking Saga – which may have uploaded "contaminated water and feed" from the salvaged GaelForce barge is now in Fraserburgh (as of 7am on 13 December 2022):
 
 
Viking Saga 13 December 2022 7am in Fraserburgh
 
 
 
 
On Saturday (10 December 2022), the Viking Saga (Aquaship) was spotted making a pit-stop (or was it a shit-stop) in Kyle of Lochalsh:
 
 
Viking Saga in Kyle of Lochalsh 10 December 2022
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking Saga new colours as Aquaship
 
 
 

 
Matador floating crane 13 December 2022 1pm still floating off Loch Carron Kishorn
 
 
 
 
UPDATE – 14 December 2022:
 
 


Matador photo 13 Dec 2022 flaoting off Loch Carron & Kishorn #4
 

 
From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 14, 2022 at 12:30 PM
Subject: Update on 'toxic' feed barge – now off Kishorn/Carron (near Plockton) but heading to Strome, Ardyne and/or Fairlie?
To:

The GaelForce 'toxic' and 'explosive' feed barge which sank during Storm Arwen in November 2021 – and which was lifted up from under Bakkafrost's Portree salmon farm ca. 10 days ago – is now sitting off the back of the Matador 3 crane barge off Plockton near Loch Carron and Loch Kishorn (it has been lying there for the last 48 hours) after spending a few days in Kenmore Bay in Loch Torridon.
 
 
View photos shot yesterday from the shore: https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1602902931187040257
 
There are lots of unanswered questions as to where it is going next (Strome, Kishorn, Ardyne & Fairlie have all been cited) – including whether Bakkafrost or Marine Masters (the salvage team who took over from Briggs Marine) have a licence or have conducted an environmental risk assessment (Loch Carron is a 'Marine Protected Area' for example).
 
It's not clear where the ca. 690 tons of "contaminated water and feed" (that's a direct quote from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency in a letter dated 6 December 2022) are currently located; whether the salvaged barge still holds the contaminated cargo or whether it was siphoned off by another boat (the Viking Saga/Aquaship was at the Portree site and visited Fraserburgh yesterday/today – it may have already transferred the cargo onto tankers). 
 
 
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency stated in a letter dated 6 December 2022 that:
 
MCA FOI review reply 6 Dec 2022 #1 Strome salvage then Ardyne corrected
 
$camon $cotland has accessed information via FOI which is presented via:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Further FOI replies are expected from SEPA, Highland Council, Fire Scotland, Food Standards Scotland and Police Scotland. 
 
Anyway, if anyone has any new intelligence or photos of the feed barge, Matador 3 or even the fleet of tankers taking the 690 tons of "contaminated water and feed" to a waste disposal facility please pass on.  Maltings Organic Treatment facility in North Yorkshire yesterday denied even knowing about any plan to dispose of the waste.  
 
This is surely a case for Hamish Macbeth (the Plockton Police constable played by Robert Carlye in the 1990s BBC drama)!  
 
 
Best fishes,
 
Don Staniford
 
Director, $camon $cotland
 
 
 
 
Matador floating crane 14 December 2022 1pm still floating off Kishorn Carron
 
 

 
 
 
 
UPDATE – 15 December 2022:
 


 
En Avant 1 15 December 1pm Loch Carron #2 photo
 
 
 
 
 
UPDATE – 19 December 2022:
 


 
 
Matador floating crane 19 December 2022 7am Loch Reraig in Loch Carron
 
 
 
Viking Saga 19 December 2022 7am in Fraserburgh
 
 
 
Read more via:
 
 
 

FOI Floodgates Open on "Explosive" Feed Barge Incident – document dump from Northern Lighthouse Board shines spotlight on salvage operation

P&J: "Stink raised over release of toxic chemicals from sunken fish farm barge off Skye"

Gael Force's Sinking Feeling: barges scuppered by bad weather or is the 'greed of feed' to blame?

Letter to Scottish Ministers re. "Explosive" Scottish Salmon – Please Defuse the Toxic Time-Bomb!

The Times: "Secret plans to evacuate island homes over toxic gas"

Risk Assessment Highlighted 'High' Risk of Exposure to Public from Toxic Hydrogen Sulphide Gases – Why the f*ck was there no public warning?

Bakkafrost is Dead in Water in Scotland – "Explosive" FOI Disclosure Lifts Lid on Hazardous Scottish Salmon!

Document dump by Scottish Government following FOI review: floodgates opened on "explosive" salmon barge off Portree!

Bakkafrost's Scottish Salmon Nightmare Gets Worse with 10,000 Tonne Black Hole in Scotland!

"Explosive" FOI disclosure from SEPA on Toxic Gases Spewing from The Scottish Salmon Company (Bakkafrost) Off Portree!

Bakkafrost is Dead in the Water in Scotland – 2021 Annual Report Details "Deadly Cocktail"!

Toxic Salmon Barge Salvaged This Month Off Portree (as revealed by FOI disclosure by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency)

500m exclusion zone near Portree Harbour in Skye as barge gives of rotten eggs smell

P&J: "Exclusion zone set up around Skye barge giving off rotten eggs smell"

"Experts tackle lethal gas leaking from sunken feed barge" (Fish Farming Expert)

BBC News: "'Rotten egg' gas leaking from fish feed barge wreck – 500m exclusion zone placed near Portree on Skye"

Toxic Gasses Spew From The Scottish Salmon Company (Bakkafrost Scotland) Off Portree

  

 

 

 

 

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