Port celebrates strong performance

LERWICK Port Authority is in an upbeat mood as the increasingly buoyant oil and gas sector generated more activity at the deep-water port’s expanding facilities.

Management at the port said last week that oil related cargo handled at Lerwick Harbour jumped 40 per cent to 138,750 tonnes in 2012.

Chief executive Sandra Laurenson said: “The continuing increase in offshore industry traffic reinforces our investment strategy, including the deep-water quay completed early almost a year ago to meet demand and the commitment to build an extension this year.

“We are projecting more growth in 2013, with support for ongoing decommissioning work and more field development projects, in particular.”

In total Shetland’s principal commercial port handled 997,474 tonnes of cargo, up 13.3 per cent.

Fish landing however was down in volume by 6.7 per cent to 61,314 tonnes, and in value by 38 per cent to just over £50 million.

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“There was a strong performance across various sectors in 2012 and the good signs for 2013 aren’t limited to the offshore industry.

“Last year’s record cruise season shows what can be achieved by all-round efforts and, with 45 vessels currently booked, we’re looking forward to another busy period.

“Recent announcements on annual quotas for white fish are reasonably positive for the industry which deserves all the encouragement it can get.

Our support for the sector includes currently building a new quay which will be the location for a proposed replacement whitefish market,” Laurenson said.