Tanker scare

ALARM bells were briefly set ringing after a Maltese oil tanker lost power shortly after leaving the harbour at Sullom Voe this week.

The 239m Adafera stopped 10 miles north of Fethaland at 1.30am on Wednesday, about an hour after dropping the outbound pilot, loaded with 83,500 tonnes of Brent crude and chartered by Shell to discharge at Tranmere on the west coast of England.

SIC ports and harbours general manager Jim Dickson said: “We were preparing to mobilise our tugs when she regained power at 2.30am and slowly steamed to the north west away from land.”

Mr Dickson said the owners and managers of the ship will be instructed to present a full report on the incident before any future arrival at Sullom Voe terminal.

The coastguard was monitoring the vessel while it carried out repairs to its main engine cooling system.