Third accommodation barge due

OIL service multinational Petrofac have confirmed a new floating hotel will berth in central Lerwick this month for workers building the new Shetland gas plant.

The second barge Calmar will be tied up at Albert Wharf outside Lerwick Port Authority’s headquarters, next to the Bressay ferry terminal.

Petrofac already has the 213 room flotel Bibby Stockholm moored at Morrison Dock since March and the 100 bedroom Moorfield Hotel is still on schedule to open in Brae in early August to accommodate more construction workers.

Meanwhile the flotel Bibby Challenge berthed in Scalloway harbour should open later this month for BP workers to start on a major long term maintenance programme at Sullom Voe oil terminal.

On Thursday Petrofac said they were bringing in the Calmar to ease the strain on local accommodation providers during the busy tourist season.

Local hoteliers are reporting a very busy season with the combination of tourists and oil workers, but say they have had to turn few holiday makers away as they tend to book earlier than oil companies.