assessments

As part of the consenting process, the government was required to consider environmental impact assessments about the fields.

In the judicial review at the Court of Session, environmental groups Greenpeace and Uplift are arguing that this means work on Rosebank and Jackdaw should be paused while fuller environmental impact assessments are carried out.

At the Court of Session in Edinburgh Chris Pirie KC, for the government, accepted that assessments did not include “the effects on climate of the combustion of oil and gas to be extracted from the fields.”

Clyde Marine Services, the tug’s owner, has been ordered to review its safety management system and risk assessments, and adopt a recognised training scheme for tug masters.

If the challenge is successful, operators would have to resubmit environmental impact assessments for approval before drilling can begin.