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

 

Update on the salvage of the 'toxic' & 'explosive' feed barge @GaelForceGroup off Portree: "The feed
barge is secured onboard the crane barge MATADOR 3 and the feed and contaminated water is being
unloaded before transit to Strome for additional remediation work" @MCA_media pic.twitter.com/pc2GbXUeA6

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 8, 2022

 

 

 

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 <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, Dec 8, 2022 at 12:20 PM
Subject: FOI ID 4103 - Portree Fish Feed Barge
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Cc: FOI <[email protected]>, HM Coastguard <[email protected]>, Sarah Walker <[email protected]>

Dear Mr Staniford

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

"SOSREP has established a Total Exclusion Zone initially around the lifting site & latterly around
MATADOR 3 itself. The TEZ will remain in force throughout the decontamination work & the transit to
Strome until all contaminated water/feed has been removed & the risk eliminated" https://t.co/k4RsCdCqZr pic.twitter.com/jJ386QyySJ

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 8, 2022

 

 

 

 

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 <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, Dec 9, 2022 at 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: Letter to Scottish Ministers re. "explosive" feed barge off Portree
To: <[email protected]>, Stan Woznicki <[email protected]>, HM Coastguard <[email protected]>, Sarah Walker <[email protected]>, Media <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, John Finlayson (Councillor) <[email protected]>, Calum Munro (Councillor) <[email protected]>, Drew Millar (Councillor) <[email protected]>, Ruraidh Stewart (Councillor) <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Forbes K (Kate), MSP <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Pollard, Peter <[email protected]>

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):

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

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):

 

 

 

 

$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

 

 

 

Mowi in the Dock for Death of Clive Hendry: "We are dealing with a fatality on our MOWI farm, totally appalling levels of safety, COPFS are going to prosecute for us" says the 'Head of The Regulatory Compliance Investigations Team' @MCA_media https://t.co/SGtfuj0uXz #Mowi #Death pic.twitter.com/h5FbOxGSLn

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 9, 2022

 

 

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

 

 

"A Skye resident who went kayaking in Portree bay near a sunken fish-feed barge has said she was given no indication that an exclusion zone was in place amid concerns over toxic gases" @WHFP1 "There were certainly no warnings to be seen & there were other kayakers too" pic.twitter.com/75UAS6YFbE

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 8, 2022

 

UPDATE (11 December 2022):

 

Bakkafrost's 'toxic' & 'explosive' @GaelForceGroup feed barge which sank off Portree in Nov 2021 has been salvaged & is now in Loch Torridon https://t.co/RXIItHVAwe
Has a risk assessment been carried out? Does the salvage operation have a licence? @scotgov @MCA_media @ScottishEPA pic.twitter.com/gb3MGkEorz

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 11, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: Don Staniford <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, Dec 11, 2022 at 11:31 AM
Subject: Update re. "explosive" feed barge off Portree - now in Loch Torridon
To: <[email protected]>, Stan Woznicki <[email protected]>, HM Coastguard <[email protected]>, Sarah Walker <[email protected]>, Media <[email protected]>
Cc: Public Relations <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Ian Blackford <[email protected]>, John Finlayson (Councillor) <[email protected]>, Calum Munro (Councillor) <[email protected]>, Drew Millar (Councillor) <[email protected]>, Ruraidh Stewart (Councillor) <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Forbes K (Kate), MSP <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Pollard, Peter <[email protected]>

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):

 

 

 

I Tweeted via https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1601862637951897600

 

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:

 

I Tweeted via https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1601901114835845121

 

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

 

 

 

Is the Viking Saga now offloading contaminated water & feed from the salvaged @GaelForceGroup barge? Does Bakkafrost & Marine Masters (operators of the Matador 3) have a licence? Where is the contaminated cargo being discharged? @ScottishEPA @MCA_media @scotgov @marinescotland https://t.co/1kpSnafgcE pic.twitter.com/377JcZg7fC

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 11, 2022

 

 

 

How do people in Torridon feel about it?Why is it not possible to clean up the mess in Portree instead of shipping it?Less visability.Less people to inconvenience if a disaster happens?Where is the contaminated water and waste being taken?Is a license required and who granted it?

— Kathleen (@lovingourlochs) December 11, 2022

 

 

 

 

UPDATE - 12 December 2022:

 

 

Bakkafrost's fish carrier, Viking Saga, is now off the North coast of Scotland near Thurso heading to Fraserburgh @MarineTraffic https://t.co/tbJddWaidN
Has it dumped the "contaminated water and feed" from the salvaged @GaelForceGroup barge? @MCA_media @ScottishEPA @scotgov pic.twitter.com/iBOVMsehTo

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 12, 2022

 

 

 

Matador 3 - presumably carrying the toxic @GaelForceGroup feed barge salvaged off Portree - is heading towards Loch Carron & Kishorn https://t.co/63ZgZyTJSr
Is it destined for 'remediation' at Strome or Kishorn? Has there been a risk assessment? @ScottishEPA @MCA_media @scotgov https://t.co/wJRj2k5pWM pic.twitter.com/yjmOHV1lTb

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 12, 2022

 

 

 

 

The Helen Rice @Ferguson_TPT - a boat used to transport dead farmed salmon - is now showing the toxic @GaelForceGroup feed barge the way into Loch Kishorn aboard the Matador 3 (towed by En Avant 1 tug boat with Aqua Reflex tug on hand) @MarineTraffic https://t.co/9GMRWTHdM9 pic.twitter.com/WBs46d8jXU

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 12, 2022

 

 

 

 

The Scottish Government reported in May that the contaminated water & feed from the salvaged Portree barge would be pumped out into holding tanks & "going to a waste facility" @scotgov @marinescotland
Is Fraserburgh (where the Viking Saga is now heading) the dumping ground? pic.twitter.com/e6g6fc0uw8

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 12, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Matador 3 - used to salvage the toxic @GaelForceGroup feed barge off Portree - has been lurking off Loch Kishorn & Loch Carron all day. Is it discharging contaminated water/feed? Or is it waiting for a licence & risk assessment? @ScottishEPA @MCA_media @scotgov @marinescotland pic.twitter.com/4ck0j4Gnck

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 12, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE - 13 December 2022: 

 

The Matador 3 - with the salvaged @GaelForceGroup barge on deck - is still sitting off Loch Kishorn/Carron. Is it illegally dumping "contaminated water & feed"? Or is it waiting for a licence & risk assessment for remediation in Strome or Kishorn? @MCA_media @ScottishEPA @scotgov pic.twitter.com/o7RfHQSfcq

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 13, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

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):

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In April 2o22, the Viking Saga (rebranded as the Aquaship) was in Canada:

 

 

 

 

 

If the Matador 3 floating crane lurks any longer off Loch Carron it will be boarded by HM Coastguard for suspicious activity https://t.co/DZbvTLRbzn
Does the toxic @GaelForceGroup barge need a licence to land in Strome or Kishorn? @ScottishEPA @MCA_media @scotgov @HighlandCouncil pic.twitter.com/HrsiP8Zld1

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 13, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE - 14 December 2022:

 

 

 

Photos taken yesterday off Loch Kishorn/Carron near Plockton of the Matador 3 floating crane with a 450 tone concrete SeaMate feed barge @GaelForceGroup - it was salvaged off Portree & may have 690 tons of "contaminated water and feed" on board @ScottishEPA @nature_scot @scotgov pic.twitter.com/Jj6eYB3Myu

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 14, 2022

 

From: Don Staniford <[email protected]>
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 the location via Marine Traffic: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:232244/zoom:14

 

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). 

 

A salvage plan published by Briggs Marine in May 2022 stated that Kishorn was ruled out as a waste transfer point as it was too remote and Fairlie quay south of Glasgow was identified as the waste transfer location where the ca. 690 tons of contaminated water and feed would be uploaded onto tankers (with 23-25 tanker loads of 30 tons each) to be transported to Maltings Organic Treatment facility in North Yorkshire. 

 

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency stated in a letter dated 6 December 2022 that:

 

 

$camon $cotland has accessed information via FOI which is presented via:

 

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

 

Public Health Scotland FOI: "an explosive risk.....supportive of the path closure" (but still no warning to the public)

 

FOI disclosure by Maritime & Coastguard Agency (8 December 2022) - more documents on the 'toxic' & 'explosive' feed barge sunk off Portree!

 

Mowi's "totally appalling levels of safety, COPFS are going to prosecute" (says Maritime & Coastguard Agency in FOI disclosure)

 

 

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)!  

https://twitter.com/TheGAAIA/status/1603008608610000898

 

 

Best fishes,

 

Don Staniford

 

Director, $camon $cotland

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calling Hamish Macbeth - could you please speed out in your boat from Plockton to see what's going on out in Loch Carron with the salvaged @GaelForceGroup feed barge? Does it has a licence to dump the 690 tons of "contaminated water & feed"? @MCA_media @ScottishEPA @scotgov pic.twitter.com/TDQo7YvSkl

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 14, 2022

 

 

 

 

UPDATE - 15 December 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE - 19 December 2022:

 

Toxic Scottish Salmon Update: The @GaelForceGroup feed barge which sank off Portree in Nov 2021 is now in Loch Reraig with the Viking Saga (which may be offloading 690 tons of "contaminated water & feed") in Fraserburgh. WTF?! @MCA_media @ScottishEPA @scotgov @HighlandCouncil pic.twitter.com/TV5n4pUyXQ

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) December 19, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

 

Mowi's "totally appalling levels of safety, COPFS are going to prosecute" (says Maritime & Coastguard Agency in FOI disclosure)

 

WHFP: "Questions over fish-feed barge safety measures"

 

Photos of Portree Salvage Operation (next stop is Kishorn)

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