Lerwick harbour keeps on growing

LERWICK Port Authority’s expansion to accommodate the growing oil and gas trade in Shetland waters continues with the opening of yet another deep water quay in November.

Greenhead Berth 7 will provide an additional 100 metres of berthing with a water depth of nine metres.

The new quay is an extension of Greenhead Berth 6, which opened for business in February last year.

The two developments represent an infrastructure investment of £7.6 million, the port authority said this week.

Chief executive Sandra Laurenson said: “The high activity in support of the sector’s operations offshore and onshore means berth 7 will come into use immediately it is available.

“The positive outlook for the foreseeable future underlines our proactive strategy for the continuing development of the port, with an anticipated capital spend of more than £20 million within the next two years.”

Schemes in the pipeline include additional sites for industry, more lay down areas and further deep water berths.

The LPA said it had invested more than £74 million since the 1960s, much of it recently aimed at developing deep water capacity.

The port now has almost 4,000 metres of quayside, including more than 1,300 metres of deep water berthing.

The tonnage of oil related shipping at Lerwick was up 26 per cent in the first half of this year, compared to the same period in 2012, with cargo shipments up 42.5 per cent.