Whereas the Port of Cairnryan Limited have applied for a harbour empowerment order under section 16 of the Harbours Act 1964(1);

And whereas the Scottish Ministers(2) having, in pursuance of paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 to the said Act(3), determined that the application is made in relation to a project which falls within Annex II to Council Directive 85/337/EEC(4) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment and whose characteristics require that it should be made subject to an environmental assessment, has directed the applicant to supply him with the information referred to in Annex IV to the Directive;

And whereas the Scottish Ministers have in accordance with paragraph 15 of the said Schedule, furnished bodies appearing to them to have environmental responsibilities with the information supplied to them under paragraph 8 of that Schedule and have consulted such bodies;

And whereas the Scottish Ministers have considered the information supplied under the said paragraph 4 of Schedule 3, the objections made and not withdrawn and the report of the person holding the inquiry and are satisfied as mentioned in section 14(2)(b) of the said Act;