News / Harbour’s largest guest
MV GEMINI, the accommodation vessel currently berthed at Dales Voe north of Lerwick, will soon be relocated to Scalloway Harbour.
The village’s harbour will provide a more sheltered berth for the vessel and its residents in poor weather as the winter months approach.
The SIC said the Gemini, which provides floating accommodation for up to 600 workers from Petrofac who are helping to build the new gas plant next to Sullom Voe, would be relocated “as soon as a suitable weather window becomes available”.
It will then berth alongside the south quay at Blacksness Pier for the next few months, becoming the largest vessel to enter Scalloway Harbour.
The cruise ship is fully self-contained, providing catering and accommodation on board. It is 164 metres long and has a beam of 22 metres.
Scalloway’s harbour entrance was dredged to a depth of 8.7 metres in 2013 to straighten the approach for larger vessels and the south quay has an available depth of 6.5 metres.
Another accommodation “flotel”, the Bibby Challenge, is already berthed at Scalloway with around 300 workers from BP who are working at Sullom Voe Oil Terminal.
SIC infrastructure services director Maggie Sandison said: “It is welcome news that a vessel of this size is now able to berth in Scalloway Harbour.
“These workers will add to those already now based in Scalloway and we are in discussions with Petrofac and local agencies on how to ensure that the community can best absorb these extra numbers with minimal impact.”
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.