Alistair Carmichael has claimed that the risks of removing an emergency towing vessel from Orkney are “unacceptably high”.
The Northern Isles MP, who attended a conference in Edinburgh on towing provision yesterday, has now called on the contract for the ship to be extended.
Towing vessels were recommended to be stationed off Scotland’s coast as part of the inquiry into the Braer disaster of 1993, but have been at the centre of controversy in recent years.
UK ministers provoked anger in 2010 when they announced plans to pull funding for the two tugs based at Stornoway and Lerwick, before being forced to partially back down and restore one of them.
However, the contract for the remaining vessel – which is now based in Orkney – is poised to expire in April.
Mr Carmichael said: “It was apparent five years ago that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency did not see the value in the Emergency Towing Vessel and it was equally clear from today’s session that this has not changed.
“They produced a risk assessment which, even though it had massive gaps in it, still showed the risk associated with removing a locally-stationed tug was unacceptably high.
“They seem to expect the private sector to fill the gap that they are intending leaving, but cannot identify where that is going to come from.
“The other fact from which there is no escaping is that the government has put the horse before the cart.
“They are assessing the risk after the decision has been made to remove the budget. In these circumstances, it is difficult to see this exercise as a meaningful or good faith exercise.
“If the government are sincere when they say they want to consult, the first thing they should do is extend the contract beyond the current end date of 31 March.
“That can be done and should be done.”
The UK Government has yet to make a commitment to retain the ship.