Sullom Voe shipping warned about floating pipe

Shipping at Sullom Voe has been told to watch out for a length of plastic pipe floating within the harbour.

It is thought the 200 to 300 metre plastic pipe could be from Total’s under-construction Shetland Gas Plant, as it was found in the vicinity. It was first spotted in Orka Voe on Monday by a local scallop boat, and the harbour authority issued a notice to mariners warning them of the hazard.

Total was notified about the pipe, which has a diameter of 10 to 12 inches, and the oil giant mobilised the survey boat Highland Fortress to investigate. She has now left the area and a guard boat is on site.

A spokesman for the port of Sullom Voe said: “We are satisfied as a harbour authority that Total has taken the necessary steps to investigate and advise us of their plans to remove the obstruction.” There was no danger to shipping and the port was operating normally, he said.