Cruise ship captains have been silenced from sounding their horns as they leave a Highland port after officials received a single noise complaint.

Vessels sailing from Port of Cromarty Firth in Invergordon, Easter Ross, have been asked not to blast their horns as they bid farewell.

The Port of Cromarty Firth is now seeking views on the traditional goodbye.

The move has sparked a petition from other locals to reinstate the horns, which has gained more than 1,200 signatures.

Toria Anderson, from Cromarty, started the petition at the weekend and said the community was “appalled” and “very upset” that the horns have been stopped.

She added: “Liners have been passing Cromarty for many years and sounding their horns as a way of communication.

“Cromarty residents and visitors love seeing the liners pass and the horns sounding.

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“We are entering key tourist time and both tourists and locals love to wave farewell to the liners. A blast of the horn has happened for years and is a tradition.”

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The port authority will discuss all feedback received with nine local community councils later this month.

A spokesperson said: “At the moment, following a complaint from a member of the public in Cromarty, cruise ships are still being asked to refrain from sounding their horns as they leave the Firth.

“If people feel strongly for or against the ships’ farewell horn blasts, we urge them to share their feedback with their local community council or directly with the port before 29 June, so that this can be taken into account.

“The ships continue to sound their horns as they leave Invergordon and, if the communities of Cromarty and Nigg feel strongly about them sounding their horns as they leave the Firth, we will respect the wishes they express and advise the cruise ship operators accordingly.”

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