Letter to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss

Dear Foreign Secretary

We, the elected members of Orkney Islands Council stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and condemn the military action by Russia at this time. Like countless others watching the invasion unfold on the news, from a position of safety, we are deeply moved and appeal for your urgency in introducing sanctions on Russian activity in the UK.

We appeal to you to take immediate action to address the activity of state-owned Russian vessels in UK waters at this time, in particular the activities by Sovcomflot oil tankers in the Northern Isles of Scotland. We are aware of the vessel NS Challenger, owned by Sovcomflot, which was permitted to take on cargo at Sullom Voe Oil terminal, in Shetland on the 24th February. Following the media statements from Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, another Sovcomflot vessel NS Champion has cancelled its berth in Scapa Flow, Orkney on the 2nd March 2022.

It is with our disappointment that sanctions were not imposed prior to this Sovcomflot activity in Shetland, however we hope that similar commercial activity in our waters is restricted in future.

We, the undersigned, fully support the UK Government extending sanctions to modify the obligations of Open Port Duty, Section 33 of the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847, to be applied to the activity of Russian state-owned vessels and their use of UK ports.

Elected members of Orkney Islands Council, as the Orkney Harbour Authority, continue to uphold the Port Marine Safety Code and the obligations covered by the Pilotage Act 1987.

Thank you for your attention on this matter.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Cllr Stephen Clackson
Cllr Sandy Cowie
Cllr Norman Craigie
Cllr Rob Crichton
Cllr David Dawson
Cllr Andrew Drever
Cllr Barbara Foulkes
Cllr Steven Heddle
Cllr Harvey Johnston
Cllr Rachael King
Cllr Leslie Manson
Cllr John Richards
Cllr Steve Sankey
Cllr John Ross Scott
Cllr Gwenda Shearer
Cllr Graham Sinclair
Cllr James Stockan
Cllr Magnus Thomson
Cllr Owen Tierney
Cllr Duncan Tullock
 Cllr Heather Woodbridge