THE wreck of a cargo ship which sank in Scottish waters is to be monitored for pollution over the next three years.

A report by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency into potential pollution caused by the sinking of the MV Jambo said consumers were not at risk from shellfish caught in the area.

However, it recommends an environmental monitoring programme to be conducted each year for the next three years.

The Jambo, a 61-metre vessel, was en route from Ireland to Norway with a cargo of 3,300 tonnes of zinc concentrate on 29 June last year.

Stornoway Coastguard received a radio alert from the ship, saying it had run aground on rocks at the Summer Isles, near the entrance to Loch Broom, and assistance was requested.

All seven crew, of Polish and Croatian nationalities, were rescued but the vessel sank.

An environmental group was established, under the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Ships and Offshore Installations, to provide advice on the environmental aspects and impacts of salvage and counter-pollution operations conducted both at sea and on the shoreline.

The shipping minister, David Jamieson, said yesterday: “I recognise the importance of protecting the environmentally sensitive area where the Jambo sank last summer, and that’s why the government will continue to monitor the area around the wreck very carefully in the next three years.

“The report shows that a great deal of work has been done. However, it is important to ensure the levels of zinc and other associated metals continue to remain acceptably low, and that is why the monitoring must continue.”

A spokesman for the Western Isles council, which previously criticised the clean-up operation that left 1,500 tonnes of zinc on the seabed, said: “The comhairle (council) welcomes the recommendation that an environmental monitoring programme for the next three years should take place.

“We will take time to properly analyse the report, and we look forward to the presentation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency when the comhairle will have an opportunity to express its concerns at the handling of the Jambo incident.”

Alison Magee, the convener of Highland Council, said: “The minister made an offer to hold a further meeting with us to discuss these issues further, and in the meantime we will be continuing our campaign for safety measures to be introduced.”