Busy year in prospect at Lerwick Harbour

Vessel arrivals and tonnage of shipping were both up last year, with the deepwater port’s capacity to accommodate larger vessels now operating in the offshore and cruise industries reflected in the higher number of piloted movements. There were increases in cargo and passengers handled, while the value of fish landings rose.

Sandra Laurenson, Lerwick Port Authority chief executive said, “The strong performance by various sectors last year underpins positive signs for 2012. While all these sectors have their particular challenges, we are cautiously optimistic that offshore related activity will be sustained, particularly through project support. There are already more than 50 cruise ships booked to visit and there has been a good start to the year for white fish landings.

“We continue to invest in the development of the port to maximise current activities and new opportunities, the latter including future decommissioning of offshore installations, both topsides and subsea.”

Figures for 2011 compared with 2010 showed vessel arrivals up 1.5% to 5,442. Offshore oil and gas industry arrivals leapt by 55% to 571, whilst pilotage movements rose by 15.5% to 1,212.