Plan B call for Moray troubled Moray dredger
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MORAY'S council-run harbours could be left without dredging cover when the local authority's dredger goes into dry dock for repairs.
The ill-starred £2.5 million MV Selkie, which has suffered a host of mechanical and staffing issues since its launch in may 2016, is set to head for Macduff Shipyards Buckie slip in mid-July to for routine maintenance.
At last Tuesday's meeting of the local authority's economic development and infrastructure services committee, local councillor and chairwoman of the Buckie Harbour Advisory Committee Sonya Warren and fellow Buckie councillor Gordon Cowie expressed concern at the lack of a "Plan B" for the period the vessel would be out of action and for the effects this could have on the council's six harbours.
Concern was also expressed at the apparent low tonnage removed by the Selkie – 20,839 tonnes 2017-18, 6651 to date this year.
Councillor Warren said: "When I heard that the dredger was not going to be available for part of this summer it immediately became apparent we need some sort of Plan B to cover this period.
"As yet councillors still have to be told what, if any, alternative cover will be in place, which is disconcerting. These harbours need to be dredged and it's already affecting harbour users in Buckie.
"It also appears that the Selkie hasn't been working for anything like the time it has previously if the tonnage figures are antything to go by, and has continued to be beset by problems."
Councillor Cowie said he was "very disappointed" by the news.
He continued: "We heard at the harbour advisory meeting it was pointed out Macduff Shipyard [in Buckie] is having problems regarding silt in basin 4 and if no dredging takes place soon in will stop them using the cradle therefore stop slipping boats.
"There seems to be one problem after another so we must get a solution sooner rather than later so that this investment by the council can earn it's keep and keep all Moray harbours safe – after all that's why it was built."
A Moray Council spokeswoman said it was hoped the Selkie would be operational this week after having an oil cooling unit on the vessel's excavator repaired.
