Calls are being made for urgent action to improve safety in Oban Bay after it emerged there have been more than 100 near misses and incidents involving vessels in the last 16 months.
Of the 103 incidents reported to the harbour manager, which include contact during berthing, grounding, navigational infringements and near misses, 12 were classed as “serious”.
The figures have been collected by Oban Bay Management Group (OBMG) from March 1 last year. It is the first time such incidents have been recorded in the harbour.
Marine traffic has increased greatly since the new pontoon development opened in July last year, bringing many more yachts and small vessels to the north side of the harbour.
Coupled with this, ferry movements have increased from 8,000 a year in 2008 to 13,000 a year today.
OBMG wants to improve safety by creating a single harbour authority, with CMAL (Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd) stepping in to take control of the vessel movements in the bay.
CMAL, which owns the CalMac terminal and ferries, would put in further measures to prevent such incidents, including the introduction of patrol vessel.
The management group is made up of the bodies which operate the main piers in the harbour, including CMAL, Argyll and Bute Council and the Northern Lighthouse board.
Objectors have said it would be a conflict of interest for the main user of the harbour run it. Leisure and business users would like to see a trust port run by the community.
Lorna Spencer, chairwoman of OBMG said: “The volume of traffic using Oban Bay has continued to increase in the last decade.
“Of course, this is great news for the local area, but increased marine traffic brings increased considerations and requirements around marine safety.
“We have instigated navigational risk assessments and we review marine incidents. Our role is to take steps to mitigate against safety risks in the bay area. Implementing new harbour authority arrangements is an important step in fulfilling that role.”
The OBMG has said that CMAL stepping in is the quickest solution, but if an organisation comes forward in the future to set up a trust port, they would be happy to step aside.
Duncan Martin, chairman of Oban Bay Community Berthing, said: “There is no doubt we need a harbour authority. We need somebody with enforceable regulations.
“But it doesn’t happen anywhere else that the biggest single user is the harbour authority. Nobody wants CMAL doing it. This will force people in the community to come forward and set up a trust port, which should have been done before now anyway.”
Of the incidents reported, the 12 more serious cases were reported to the MCA.
A spokeswoman for the MCA said: “Local District Marine Safety Committees, chaired by MCA Marine Office (MO) surveyor-in-charge, would formally discuss, record and endeavour to redress navigation safety incidents and near misses, whether within or out with MCA’s wider remit.”
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: “We are aware of the concerns of the Oban Bay Management Committee and welcome their efforts to help improve navigational safety in Oban Bay.”
