Harbour Master training for Highland Harbours

The Highland Council own and operate eight manned harbours, which cater mainly for the fishing industry. A large part of the business is fuel distribution, which include imports for redistribution by road and marine bunkering. Therefore, there was a requirement to produce oil spill contingency plans that comply with UK Merchant Shipping Regulations. And training of key staff members is a vital element of the contingency planning process.

The Oil Spill Training Company presented a series of training courses at Kyle of Lochalsh, Kinlochbervie, Lochinver, Gairloch and Uig Harbours; primarily aimed at Harbour Masters and Assistant Harbour Masters. Participants were drawn from all eight Highland Council manned harbours and from Head Quarters in Inverness. The course was a mixture of classroom sessions coupled with the practical deployment of equipment, which was supplied by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.