First Minister 'deeply concerned' he was not told of seized tanker in Scottish waters
The Marinera is in the Moray First as it is restocked with food and water for crew
Scotland’s First Minister said he was “deeply concerned” he had not been told that the seized Venezuelan-linked oil tanker was in Scottish waters.
The Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella-1, was seen in the Moray Firth yesterday with a US Coast Guard vessel following its capture in the North Atlantic last week.
The ship was brought close to the Scottish mainland to allow for provisions to be taken aboard for the crew.
Mr Swinney said he learned about the ship’s presence in the Moray Firth from media reports.
The tanker is thought to have been pursued across the Atlantic by US forces in an operation backed by UK counterparts, though they did not board the vessel.
Mr Swinney said: “I would have expected to have been briefed in advance about steps to accommodate the tanker in the Moray Firth,” he said.
“I’m deeply concerned that I have not been and these issues have been raised with the United Kingdom Government and we’re trying to seek information about this.
“It is not appropriate for the Scottish Government to learn about these issues through media reports.
“There should be advanced briefing from the United Kingdom Government and I am insisting on that.”
It is not known how many crew members are on board, or where the ship is headed to next.
Several Scottish airports, including Wick John O’ Groats, which is owned by the Scottish Government, were used in the operation to capture the tanker, which Mr Swinney earlier said he supported.
The Scottish Government had been notified that they were required for an operational matter in advance, although not the details of it.
US aircraft also took off from RAF Lossiemouth, Benbecula and Stornoway as the operation gathered pace.
Torcuil Crichton MP (Labour) of Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) constituency, earlier described the successful US effort to seize the vessel as coming “too close for comfort” for Hebrideans, warned , who described the Atlantic Ocean as Britain’s “front line” against Moscow.
Graham Leadbitter, SNP MP for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, said it was “shocking “ that the UK Government did not inform the Scottish Government that the tanker was moving into the Moray Firth.
He said: “It's a tanker that's very visible. Rather than leave people to guess what might be happening, when it's such a visible thing, they're better to just inform the public as much as they reasonably can and give people information about why it has happened."
Mr Leadbitter said he had received no contact from the UK Government and found out about the tanker through "social media and local press.
SNP MSP for Moray Richard Lochhead said: “I welcome the First Minister raising the presence of the seized oil tanker off the Moray coast with the UK Government, who must provide urgent clarity on this situation.“Locals will have many questions about the anchoring of this tanker just off our coast line, including why it is there and how long it will remain.”
The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
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