Harbour getting busier

THE OFFSHORE energy industry continues to boost earnings at Lerwick harbour.

Statistics released on Friday show the first nine months saw a huge 42 per cent increase in tonnage from the oil and gas sector compared to last year, with 534 vessels weighing in at 3.1 million gross tonnes.

Cargo on these vessels also saw a major jump of 28.5 per cent to 137,958 tonnes largely made up of equipment, including the large modules, for the new gas plant being built by Petrofac at Sullom Voe.

However the harbour’s mainstay fishing industry also saw a leap in income of 17 per cent up to £39.4 million, thanks to a six per cent rise in the volume of fish landed at 44,512 tonnes.

The bulk of this was mackerel, which was up five per cent on volume and 26 per cent on value, but the amount of white fish landed was up by 13 per cent to 8,263 tonnes.

Other statistics show:

• the overall number of vessels was up by three per cent at 4,179;
• ship tonnage was up 7.8 per cent to 10.5 million gross tonnes;
• all cargo went up by 15 per cent to 856,800 tonnes;
• 12 per cent more vessels needed to be piloted into the port as they were so big;
• the number of ferry passengers was up by six per cent to 107,069;
• cruise liner passengers were down 30 per cent to 26,477, while total passengers were down three per cent to 134,283.

The port’s chief executive Sandra Laurenson said demand was only likely to grow with a new deep water quay due to be completed this month with three new lay down areas providing an extra 45,000 square metres of space.

The £1.28 million project has received a grant of £515,315 from the European Regional Development Fund.