Port Pre-Arrival Information

ISPS Pre-Arrival

The port requires the following vessels, required to comply with the ISPS code, to submit a pre-arrival information report form (sample on page 5) at least 24 hours prior to arrival:

  • Cargo vessels arriving from a non-UK port.
  • Cruise ships arriving from any port.
  • All tankers of over 3000 GT arriving from any port.

Notification Prior to Entry Into Port

Notification Requirements

Under the Merchant Shipping (Traffic Monitoring and Reporting Requirements) vessels are equired to provide notification to their intended port of call at least 24 hours in advance. The requirement is applicable to all vessels of 300GT and over, with the following exceptions:

  • Fishing vessels
  • Traditional ships
  • Pleasure craft under 45 metres
  • Warships
  • Naval auxiliaries
  • Other ships operated or owned by the government of an EEA state which are used for non-commercial public service.

To facilitate this requirement, all affected vessels visiting Orkney are required to complete a report form, a sample of which can be found below. Masters and agents are advised that failure to complete the form at the appropriate time may result in the ship being delayed or denied access to the harbour authority areas and ports. Masters or agents of exempt vessels should forward evidence of their ships' status to the harbour authority operations room at least 24 hours prior to arrival.

Port Waste Reception

Orkney Harbour Authority, under the requirements set out in Statutory Instrument No.2003/1809, operates a Port Waste Management Plan. This ensures that all ship generated waste and cargo residue is controlled at all authority piers and harbours. This requirement is applicable to all vessels, except fishing vessels and recreational craft authorised to carry, or designed to carry, no more than 12 passengers. The waste management plan details the location of all waste collection facilities at the authority's piers and harbours. It also contains a list of the contractors used for waste disposal. SI 2003/1809 requires all the identified vessels intending to enter the harbour authority area, to provide notification of the waste they are carrying (unless they hold a MCA Exemption Certificate). Information, as required in Annex A of MGN 253 (M+F) and in schedule 2 of the Port Waste Reception Facilities Regulations 2003, must be reported prior to arrival. To comply with the EU Animal By-products regulation (1774/2002/EC) and The Animal by-products (Scotland) regulations 2003, all catering waste must be double bagged prior to landing. Catering waste includes all packing materials associated from the food. Any catering waste from a vessel that has landed in a non-EU port will have all food waste treated as CAT 1 food waste (ICW). This includes all vessels that have docked/landed in non-EU countries even if the vessel has been provisioned in the EU, as there is no reliable method for establishing that non-EU stores were not taken on-board. Ships' agents are responsible for notifying visiting vessels of these requirements. The information should be sent to the harbour authority by fax or email or, if necessary by VHF radio.

Contact details:

(for OHA piers and harbours)

Arrangements have been put in place to accept waste from all other vessels that are outside the scope of the requirements. Piers are provided with euro bins and some of the larger piers are provided with skips and waste oil collection tanks. The cost of waste collection and disposal is normally covered within the harbour dues. However, there are additional fees for large quantities of waste (excess of 16.0m³ or 2.0 tonnes). Vessels are made aware of the fee for waste collection through details published in the port's Schedule of Charges details of which can be found on the schedule of charges page. Any vessel, which believes there is an inadequacy in the waste management plan, can report this directly to the harbour authority or through the ships agent. The harbour authority is obliged to deal with complaints promptly.

Ballast Water Management

Despite strong tidal currents around the Orkney Islands, the inner waters of Scapa Flow are largely unaffected by tidal currents and consequently the water exchange process is very slow. Therefore to minimize the potential for pollution resulting from oil, chemical, heavy metals and transfer of non native aquatic organisms and pathogens which may be contained within ships ballast water and associated sediments, the OIC Harbours in association with the Flotta Oil terminal, operates a stringent policy on the control and management of ships' ballast water; to provide protection for this important marine environment and the rich natural marine biodiversity within Scapa Flow. The procedure applies to all vessels over 400 grt within or using the Scapa Flow Oil Port or Anchorage Facility. These port procedures enhance on the International Convention for the 'Control and Management of ships Ballast water and Sediment' adopted in 2004, and the guide lines issued under IMO Resolution A.868 (20). The discharge of a ships' ballast water whilst within Scapa Flow as defined by the harbour limits is prohibit unless in accordance with the following:

For Vessels Using the Flotta Oil Terminal Jetty or SPM Facilities

  1. Discharge is only permitted through the ballast water reception and treatment facilities that are provided at the Flotta Oil terminal. This ensures the discharge can be both monitored and if necessary treated, prior to its transfer and eventual discharge south of Flotta.

Liquid Gas Carriers Not Subject To a Special Ballast Management Agreements

Direct discharge to sea of their ballast water is only permitted in accordance with the following restrictions:

  1. The total quantity of ballast water for discharge is limited to the minimum essential quantity possible.
  2. The ballast water for discharge must have been taken onboard or exchanged in accordance with IMO Resolution A.868 (20) Reg B-4 criteria, i.e. at a location where the depth of water is 200 mtr or more and at a minimum of 50 nautical miles from the nearest land. If this is not possible, then at least taken onboard or exchanged within 24 hours of arrival at Scapa Flow and a minimum of 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.
  3. The Master has formally requested and obtained written permission from the Harbour authority to undertake specific de-ballast operations.

Liquid Gas Carriers Identified in Specific Ballast Water Management Agreements

Direct discharge to sea of their ballast water is only permitted in accordance with the following conditions:

  1. The total quantity of ballast water for discharge is limited to the minimum essential quantity possible.
  2. The ballast water for discharge must have been taken onboard or exchanged within the specific locations and in accordance with the circumstances and conditions identified within the agreement.
  3. The Master submits to the Harbour authority prior to arrival a ballast water reporting form as per (SF 07-008) or similar indicating the times, quantities and positions of all ballast water intake operations and indicating those tanks to be discharged.
  4. The Master has onboard a valid copy of the ballast water management agreement.

Vessels that cannot comply fully with the conditions described in a), b) or c) must proceed out of Scapa Flow to under take any de-ballast operation they require. In accordance with b), iii) the Master to obtain permission to discharge ballast must provide the Port Authority with a Ballast Water Reporting Form (SF 07-008) or similar indicating the position and time of taking onboard and/or exchange of the ballast water and a Ballast Water Discharge Request Form (SF 07-009) or similar indicating those tanks and quantities being requested for discharge. Written permission will be forwarded to the