Erratic oil supplies continues to threaten Islay distillers.

Posted on June 3, 2007
Filed Under Islay, WhiskyBuzz |

keewhit-approaching-bruichladdich-20-march-2007.jpg
The Keewhit approaching Bruichladdich March this year.

The famous whisky island of Islay is still running on vapours.
And not the spirit kind. 

Irregular oil supplies are putting whisky distilling at risk. The cause is a piece of well-meaning European legislation that requires that enlarged, double skin tankers are used exclusively by 2008 to prevent spillage of oil at sea.

In 2006 Argyll & Bute Council spent £3m altering their existing pier at Bruichladdich - despite local fears that the proposed design was not fit for purpose. Ignoring marine consultant advice, the council claimed health and safety reasons for steamrolling through the design, threatening no distilling and old folk with no heating.

To add insult, a financing deal between Argyll & Bute, Shell and the bank resulted in islanders paying for the pier indirectly via “landing fees” added to the oil price. Fears were raised that the new larger 77 metre tanker was pulling the new pier away from the older structure in high winds. A 20 tonne weight restriction has been applied. The 4 metre depth at the pier has not been maintainable. An extra metre at spring high tide makes the depth 5m; the tanker, fully loaded, draws 4.97 metres – a 3cm clearance. With silting, the depth has been reduced causing the tanker to run aground several times. Now only half load deliveries are possible and these subject to erratic weather conditions.

David Todd, General Manager of Gleaner Oils, the Shell distributor: “We have to clearly state that we cannot guarantee supplies of Medium Fuel Oil to the distilleries from Monday 28th May onwards.” Speaking on Radio 4’s You & Yours program, an A & B spokesman claimed Shell approved their design as ‘fit for purpose’ at the time.

markr.jpgBruichladdich Distillery Managing Director Mark Reynier: “This is a cock-up of monumental ineptitude. Argyll & Bute’s pier is inadequate. The Council refused outright to consider a practical alternative recommended by marine engineers that would be usable in most conditions – and for half the money – our money.”

It is feared that Shell have lost interest in delivering uneconomic loads. The only alternative is road haulage and ferry but this route is already at maximum capacity. With a move to centralise distillation in new mainland mega-distilleries there are potentially implications for the island’s economy in the event of an industry downturn.

Diesel on the island is currently at £1.06 a litre - the most expensive in the UK by 10%. (May 2007 AA report: UK’s highest price: 97.3 pence a litre)

Source: Bruichladdich

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