The oil would be transferred in the Firth of Forth

Council representatives and the chief executive of Forth Ports met on Thursday to decide on the proposals.

Local authorities on both sides of the estuary have already voiced opposition to the scheme.

The transfers would involve piping cargoes of Russian oil from smaller vessels into larger tankers while at anchor in the Firth.

Charles Hammond, chief executive of Forth Ports, said that he felt it was important to have two-way communication with the local authorities.

He said that the meeting had been positive and worthwhile and had enabled Forth Ports to demonstrate its open and transparent approach to ship-to-ship transfer.

We still have concerns about their decision making process to whether what they present is actually acceptable to all of us Cllr Ewan Aitken Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council

Cllr Ewan Aitken, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "We had a constructive meeting with Forth Ports where we expressed our concerns and listened to what they had to say.

"We definitely learnt a lot and they showed us evidence of how the assessments on environmental safety are made and how risks are determined.

"However we still have concerns about their decision making process to whether what they present is actually acceptable to all of us.

"I would still prefer a circumstance where the environmental impact assessment was being made by somebody independent from Forth Ports but I realise now that that would require legislative change.

"Forth Ports have agreed to meet again formally with the six councils who have responsibility for the Forth shoreline. "