Final phase of stone delivery

The final phase of the delivery of stone to Orkney from the Glensanda Quarry in Oban is due to get underway next week.

Around 40,000 tonnes of the 80,000 tonnes required has already been delivered - and the final phase will see the remainder delivered in three larger deliveries.

The stone was sourced in January 2021 in order to deal with an anticipated shortfall of material for  building projects in the county - caused by a delay on the Council's plans to extend Cursiter Quarry whilst planning permission was secured.

To date, stone has been delivered from Glensanda to Hatston pier using small coastal vessels capable of transporting around 4,000 tonnes each time.  However, as a consequence of supply chain issues, Glensanda have been unable to charter a smaller boat and are instead using their own, larger, vessel - the Yeoman Bank.

This will see the remaining 40,000 tonnes delivered in three visits with the stone discharged directly to the pier at Hatston and then moved by lorries to the quarry over the course of around six days.

There is no additional cost and no subsequent increase in the overall contract price.

The first shipment is due to arrive in Orkney on Wednesday 26th January 2022, with the remaining two deliveries expected by end March 2022.  

 

Additional Information

What are the plans?

The proposal is to bring in the 40,000 tonnes of stone remaining on the order in 3 shipments.  Each shipment will be discharged directly to the pier at Hatston before being transferred to lorries and then transported to Cursiter Quarry.  Due to the volume of stone, this transfer will take around 6 days, meaning that stone will remain on the pier for this period of time, although the volume will diminish significantly each day.

Why are you bringing in such large quantities?

There is a shortage of smaller vessels for hire at the moment, as a result of supply chain pressures caused by COVID and Brexit.  Therefore, in discussion with Glensanda, it was agreed that it would be more effective to use the boat which they own and bring in the remaining stone in larger amounts.  This also reduces the amount of shipping activity and subsequent carbon emissions.

Doesn’t this just mean that there will be more truck movements?

It will now take around 6 days to move the stone from Hatston to Cursiter Quarry, compared to the 2 days previously when smaller amounts of stone were being brought in.  However, the overall number of truck movements will remain the same, albeit over more days for shorter periods.  If we had continued to use the smaller vessels then we were expecting around 10 shipments, compared to the 3 now scheduled.  We are anticipating around 100 truck movements per day.

How many more deliveries are expected?

By using the larger vessel we expect to have the full amount of stone on order delivered through three shipments.  These deliveries are provisionally scheduled to be complete by the end of March 2022 although this is dependent on weather conditions.

Is this going to cost any more?

No.  This does not affect the cost of the order or the cost of moving the stone to the quarry.

Will we still be able to use the pier at Hatston?

Movement of the Northlink freight and ferry vessels will be unaffected by this and passengers and vehicles will not be impacted.  Access will be maintained for the owners of the wave device in order to allow them to make their daily checks.  This part of the pier will, however, be inaccessible to the public whilst we are in the process of moving the stone to Cursiter Quarry.  This is expected to take around 6 days.

Is it safe to store the stone on the pier?

Structural engineers have calculated the weight which the pier can safely carry and the expected amount of stone is within the safe limits.

What happens if the pier is damaged?

As noted, structural engineers have calculated the safe weight that can be stored on the pier without impacting on the structural integrity.  As the stone is removed, we will take measures to clean and wash the pier.

Are you going to be moving stone at the weekends?

We intend to remove the stone as quickly as possible from the pier at Hatston.  Depending on the day of the week on which the ship arrives, this could mean that we would be considering truck movements on a Saturday or a Sunday, although we will make every effort to avoid Sunday working.  If this does become necessary, the appropriate permissions are in place and neighbours will be notified accordingly.

This sounds like there will be a lot of people and trucks moving around the pier, along with stone being discharged from the boat. What safety measure do you have in place?

The area along the pier into which the stone is being discharged will be fenced off and appropriate safety arrangements put in place to manage vehicle access and egress.  In addition, Harbours will put traffic control measures in place to limit access to the working area and its surrounds.

What security arrangements will you have in place to stop the stone going missing?

Security fencing will be installed around the stone and there is constant CCTV surveillance of the pier and its surroundings.

How will you keep the local community informed?

We will issue neighbour notification letters as required by our planning conditions to inform residents in the vicinity of the quarry when the stone is expected.

How will you make sure that there is no impact on the environment from the increased movement of trucks?

We work closely with Planning Services and the Environmental Health team to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to minimise noise and other nuisance associated with the stone delivery.  Given that we are expecting the deliveries to take place in the winter months we will also take note of current weather conditions and will temporarily halt the truck movements if road conditions become unsuitable.  It is also important to note that the total number of lorry movements will be the same, if not less, than if the stone was imported in smaller volumes.

Were Orkney Harbours consulted?

We have worked closely with colleagues at Orkney Harbours to make sure that these proposals are in accordance with their operational processes and will not cause an impact on their services.

Do Orkney Harbours make more money out of this?

Standard Orkney Harbours charges will apply.  Although a larger vessel attracts more charges, there will be fewer visits, meaning that there is unlikely to be any overall difference.

Why not load directly on to the lorries and avoid storing on the pier?
Due to the rate at which the vessel discharges the material, it is not possible to load directly onto the lorries.  

Is there room to store the stone in the quarry?

Yes, there is sufficient space on the quarry floor to store these quantities prior to sale and use.

Will this impact on existing quarry operations or on the proposed extension?

No, there is no impact on current and future operations.

Why doesn’t the ship just stay at the pier until all the stone can be taken away?

Standard maritime practice is for boats to come into harbour for as short a time as possible.  Therefore, once the stone is discharged onto the pier the vessel will depart for other operations.