Feb. 29 (Bloomberg) -- The North Sea Sullom Voe terminal in Scotland's Shetland Islands, which handles shipments of benchmark Brent crude oil, suspended berthing because of high winds.

Loading at Sullom Voe was halted at 4 a.m. local time today, according to an update on the Shetland Islands Council Web site. It previously resumed operations at 9 p.m. on Feb. 27 following a similar disruption.

BP Plc, Europe's second-biggest oil company, operates Sullom Voe on behalf of a group of companies. The terminal handles crude from more than 20 fields in the North Sea, including the Brent blend and Schiehallion crude, which is shipped by pipeline and shuttle tankers.

Berthing at Sullom Voe has been stopped on at least 16 occasions since the beginning of the year because of high winds and waves. Empty oil tankers can be destabilized in gales, making it dangerous to dock.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alaric Nightingale in London at Anightingal1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: February 29, 2008 01:36 EST