Ship to ship oil transfers already take place at Scapa Flow in Orkney

Officials from East Lothian and Edinburgh councils, the Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage, Sepa and the RSPB will hold talks.

Last month the Maritime and Coastguard Agency approved Forth Ports plans on how it would tackle an oil spill during the transfer of tonnes of crude oil.

Thursday's meeting is thought to be about raising concerns over the scheme.

'Much greater risks'

Sunderland-based Melbourne Marine Services wants to transfer up to eight million tonnes of Russian oil every year between ships in the Forth.

The plan would involve tankers from the Baltic and Barents seas anchoring four miles off the Fife coast to pump oil into tankers bound for the US and Far East.

Fife councillor Mike Rumney said: "The amendments on the impact of significant spills shows that Melbourne Marine Services and Forth Ports haven't as yet even estimated the risks of significant spills.

"This doesn't fill us with confidence. As we've asserted all along, the risks are much greater, too great in fact for us to accept."