Safety concerns over shipping in busy Oban Bay has led to the port being brought under the control of one harbour authority for the first time.
A hybrid Single Harbour Authority (SHA) will take over the marine traffic management of the ferry port.
At present the North Pier is operated by Argyll and Bute Council, the Railway Pier and ferry terminal by government organisation CMAL and the Northern Lighthouse Board Pier by the board.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Environment Development and Infrastructure Committee heard today that a risk assessment has cited the absence of a SHA as having a fundamental impact on the operations and marine activities in Oban Bay.
Fergus Murray, the councils head of economic and development services, said: “Oban is a very successful port and it has great potential to grow and prosper, but it is also a confined space which has a lot of activity.
“CalMac operate an extremely busy ferry terminal. There is also increasing use by aquaculture boats and other service boats. Also the fishing fleet and leisure craft all come in and use the harbour.
“A detailed study looks at series of options for the future of the harbour.
“The preferred option is a single harbour authority.”
Councillor Elaine Robertson said: “I welcome this, it would be a huge advantage to us to have a single port authority.
“There is no radio centre in Oban harbour at the moment. We have had times when ships have been coming in looking for support about where to go. On one occasion about 18 months ago a ship went straight on to a reef in the bay. It highlighted the fact that there is no means of getting information to a ship which is not familiar with the bay.”
Roddy McCuish, chairman of Oban Lorn and the Isles area committee, said: “I welcome this. It gives an endorsement of how busy Oban Bay is. It is long overdue and a tremendous step forward.”
The committee supported in principle the idea of a single harbour authority and agreed that council officers should continue discussions, explore the financial implications and report back to the committee.
In May 2013 a small cruise liner ran aground in the waters of Oban Bay.
The Grenadines-registered MS Serenissima, which had 112 people on board, became stuck in sand and gravel. It was later refloated and no-one was injured.