Klondykers are back

THREE Russian klondykers are bringing back memories to Lerwick harbour.

The factory ships have not been seen for decades, having been regular visitors up until the early 1990s when three of them sank in or near the harbour in bad weather.

Now three ships are landing blue whiting for cold storage at the Shetland Catch factory because there is no capacity in Holland where they normally go.

The Porfiriy Chanchibadze and Bratya Stoyanovy landed fish on Friday morning and are due to sail on Saturday, when the Nivenskoye is expected to arrive.

Shetland Catch chairman John Goodlad said this was the first time the factory had stored fish for the klondyke fleet, but said they seized the business opportunity when it arose.

“It gives us a little bit of income while we are not working until the herring comes in the first week of June,” he said.

The blue whiting will be kept in Lerwick for one month before being shipped to Nigeria.