Port successful in attracting funding to reclaim land at Arlanda
WORK to reclaim land at Arlanda East, next to the Pelagia Shetland plant, is to start this summer as a result of Lerwick Port Authority being successful in attracting government funding.
Defra, the department for environment, food and rural affairs, announced today (Monday) that the port is in line to receive just over £450,000 in funding for the project.
The UK Government announcement was made as part of £40 million worth of funding for 21 projects under the second round of the UK Seafood Fund.
Lerwick Port Authority was the only successful local bidder.
The port said the £601,000 reclamation project, which will create around 4,000 square metres of new land, would accommodate a future expansion by the pelagic fish processing sector.
Following a competitive tender process, a 22-week contract to infill an area of seabed has been awarded to Shetland civil engineering company, Frank L Johnston, which undertook the original reclamation at Arlanda.
Port authority chief executive, Captain Calum Grains, said: “Reclamation projects have helped shape the modern harbour, most recently at the Holmsgarth fishing hub and the deep-water Dales Voe offshore industry support base.
“The Defra funding is key to the latest scheme going ahead, hard off the heels of the Covid pandemic which hampered development during that time.
“Gaining the additional land reflects our ongoing commitment to the fishing industry generally and will enable the pelagic sector to expand its processing capability in later phases of development, encouraging higher landings and increasing exports.”
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