Commenting after meeting UK Shipping Minister Mike Penning, Liberal Democrat MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West John Farquhar Munro said:

“I explained the vital importance of the tugboats to the Minister. The two Scottish tugboats represent excellent value for money.

“They are a vital insurance policy in the event of a vessel running aground.

“The Braer incident in 1993 showed the amount of damage that can be done when the tugs are not available.

“I will be doing everything I can to make the case to the Minister and others of the need to save the tugboats.”