Those deciding on a licence to transfer millions of tonnes of crude oil between tankers at the mouth of the Cromarty Firth, owe it to local people to visit the area before deciding.

This is what the Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will be told in a telephone call first thing tomorrow morning from Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity who is the local MSP for Inverness and Nairn.

Over 100 constituents, mostly from Nairn, have made representations to him about the Cromarty Firth Port Authority's application to the Southampton-based MCA to transfer up to nine million to tonnes of crude oil a year, between tankers at anchor in open water just outside the Cromarty Firth.

It is one of the most important areas for dolphins in Europe and close to other designated conservation sites. There is great concern locally that any oil spill would herald an environmental disaster ruining local businesses. But the port authority insists it takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously.

Mr Ewing wrote to the Chief Executive of the MCA, Sir Allan Massey before Christmas and will talk to him on the phone at 9am tomorrow.

Mr Ewing , speaking as a constituency MSP, said "I believe that the MCA should send senior representatives to the Highlands in order to hear the views of my constituents and others on this issue, and be willing to engage with them."

He said he would be asking Sir Allan that this meeting be arranged prior to any decision being taken.

Meanwhile the campaign group Cromarty Rising and supporters from Nairn are due to stage a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament tomorrow. They want to to persuade MSPs to outlaw the controversial ship to ship oil transfers in areas of high conservation value across Scotland.

Mr Ewing's SNP MSP colleagues Kate Forbes and Gail Ross are already opposed to the oil transfer plan as is the Green Party MSP John Finnie.