Ship-to-Ship transfers
Scapa Flow continues to be one of the principle locations in the UK for the Ship-to-Ship transfer of crude and fuel oils. The physical environment of Scapa Flow provides a deep-water sheltered anchorage with the infrastructure in place to providing all the services required for a safe and efficient transfer operation.

The size and depth of Scapa Flow allows for several vessels to be safely anchored at any one time. This allows vessels to wait at anchor for as long as is required prior to transferring their cargo to the export ship. Multiple
Ship-to-Ship transfer operations have been able to operate simultaneously within Scapa Flow.

The first Ship-to Ship transfer of North Sea crude oil in Scapa Flow took place in August 1980; the Matco Thames transferred is cargo into the Mobil Magnolia. It required two transfers from the Matco Thames to load the Mobil Magnolia that had a deadweight of 280,237 tonnes, effectively a two million barrel tanker.

The overall tonnage of crude oil and fuel oil transferred via Ship-to-Ship transfer operations in Scapa Flow at the end of 2004 is approximately 15 million tonnes or 4% of the ports oil related cargo to date. In 2004 there were a total of 17 transfer operations involving 59 individual transfers. A total of 2.7 million tonnes of oil, these being fuel oils, Balder Crude, Kittiwake Crude, Aasgard condensate and Oseberg Crude.

To date all Ship-to-Ship transfer operations have taken place at anchor in Scapa Flow and the present operators for the provision of Ship-to-Ship superintendence are Fendercare Marine. Fendercare Marine has John Jolly as a local agent in Orkney, 4 Yokohama fenders and 10-inch hoses are permanently stored in Orkney.

Bunkering operations are also carried out in Scapa Flow with coastal tankers arriving with bunkers for vessels at anchor.

The Orkney Islands Council Department of Harbours provide the pilotage and pilot launch services for all operations in Scapa Flow. Orkney Towage Ltd provides the towage services for Scapa Flow.

All vessels arriving at a Scapa Flow Pilot for Ship-to-Ship transfer operations must arrive with their propeller submerged and a trim no greater than 4.0 meters by the stern. A trim must be maintained to allow the vessel to be manoeuvered without difficulty during their stay.

All Transfer operations will comply with the current OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum) STS Transfer Guide and the approved company STS procedures. Only contractors approved by the Orkney Islands Council Department of Harbours will be permitted to supervise any Ship-to-Ship transfer operations in Scapa Flow.

Due to the slow exchange of water in Scapa Flow no ballast water from Ship-to-Ship transfer operations is permitted to be discharged into Scapa Flow. Vessels requiring to de-ballast will be required to leave Scapa Flow to carryout de-ballasting prior to returning to complete the Ship-to-Ship transfer operation.