Opposition is growing to plans to transfer nearly nine million tonnes of crude oil a year between tankers at the mouth of the Cromarty Firth.

Many fear the impact on nearby designated environmental sites and the last colony of bottlenose dolphins in the North Sea, the Moray Firth Dolphins.

Two petitions have now been launched opposing Cromarty Firth Port Authority’s (CPFA) decision to apply for a licence to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

As the Herald revealed last month, the port authority wants to undertake oil transfers between vessels at anchor just outside the firth, beyond the headlands at its mouth called the Sutors. This area in the larger Moray Firth, is also under CFPA control.

Ship to ship oil transfers (STS) at the nearby Nigg Oil Terminal jetty have been carried safely under licence for years. Between 2009 and 2014 there were over 85 STS such transfer operations at Nigg, with over 6.5 million tonnes transferred.

CFPA has not explained why it now wants a licence to transfer 180,000 tonnes four times a month, 8,640,000 tonnes a year, between tankers without the stability of being tied up alongside at a pier, and which are further out to sea.

A public meeting will be held in Cromarty, the nearest community to the proposed ship to ship transfer sites, next week amid local concerns.

Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie, formerly of the SNP but now of the Green Party, is appealing to the people around the Moray Firth, and beyond, to sign a new Save Our Dolphins petition.

He said “The proposal for ship-to-ship oil transfers puts the priceless environment of the Moray Firth – including our iconic bottlenose dolphins – at risk.

“The plan means that instead of loading and offloading oil in the safety of Nigg harbour, oil would be pumped between ships at the mercy of the waves out in the Firth. It’s little wonder that this risky procedure is seen as a real threat by campaigners like Whale and Dolphin Conservation.”

Another online petition was launched last week. ‘Tell the Cromarty Firth Port Authority NO to ship to ship transfers in Moray Firth’ has over 1,600 signatures already and a target of 2,000 signatures.

But Bob Buskie, the CEO of the port authority, said: “Due to the interest in this application we agreed to extend the consultation period to allow interested parties more time to express their views. This type of ’ship to ship’ transfer has been carried out within the Port for many years without incident. As a Green MSP, we understand John Finnie’s concerns and we would ask him to contact our office to discuss the application and the environmental safeguards that would be put in place. We have to stress the Port takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously.”