Also in the news / Race winners, Rosebank update and more…
THE WINNERS of the first leg of the Shetland Race were announced at a ceremony in Mareel on Friday night.
The 22 yachts, plus one cruising class vessel, began arriving in Lerwick at 2.28pm on Thursday afternoon with the arrival of EnderPearl, who took the blue ribbon.
The final yacht, Ocean Girl, arrived on Friday morning, having taken 45 hours and 45 minutes to make the crossing. Local boat Swiftwing made the journey in 37 hours and 19 minutes.
Avanti II was named as the overall winner after time corrections, and also took first place in the doubled handed class.
The 18 yachts participating in the return leg of the race faced a delay to the start, with storm conditions forcing organisers to push it back to 1pm on Sunday.
Three yachts left Lerwick early to avoid the weather, and two were not planning to participate in the return leg.
FOUR shops in the centre of Lerwick have come up for sale.
Three of the units have long-term tenants, with the fourth expected to be leased soon.
The current tenants for the three units are British Red Cross, Burns Lane Clothing and Lerwick DIY.
The fourth unit, opposite Superdrug, has been empty but is set to be reopened by the Original Cake Fridge team.
SHETLAND Islands Council has said a four month trial of an electric bus in the isles has come to an end.
Project manager Steve MacLean said the bus had undergone load bearing tests on a variety of routes throughout Shetland.
“We are working with transport consultants to analyse the findings and generate a report by the end of August, which will include qualitative, and quantitative data on what worked well and what did not,” he said.
EQUINOR has confirmed it will submit new information regarding the Rosebank development after the UK Government issued fresh guidance on emissions for oil and gas licence applications.
Last week the government gave more clarity over how developers will need to create environmental impact assessments that also factor in emissions released from burning oil and gas.
The proposed Rosebank development to the north west of Shetland previously received a licence but, following a successful legal challenge, it will need to take into account these new extra emissions and get fresh approval before drilling can take place.
A spokesperson for Equinor said following the UK Government’s release of new guidance: “We remain committed to working closely with all relevant stakeholders to advance the Rosebank project.
“We welcome clarity and can confirm that we will submit a downstream end user combustion emissions (‘Scope 3’) assessment in full compliance with the government’s new environmental guidance.”
The court ruling allowed Equinor to continue development of the project in the meantime.
FORMER Shetland Recreational Trust chief executive Steven Laidlaw has been appointed as the new managing director of local company SSQC amid aims for expansion.
The company undertakes a wide range of food and drink microbiology, chemical, aquaculture and water quality testing in Shetland.
Alongside the same-day service available to local customers, SSQC has a targeted expansion plan in place to attract new business from across the UK.
Laidlaw said: “SSQC has been operating quietly behind the scenes, consistently delivering high-quality UKAS-accredited services to a loyal client base in both the public and private sector.
“What’s striking is the incredible depth of expertise within the team and the level of care and service they provide day in, day out. My role is to make sure more people know that this capability exists locally, and that they can access it on a same-day-service basis.
“The business is Shetland’s first line of defence – delivering routine and specialist time sensitive testing in relation to product quality, contamination and disease. We are already taking the service to customers outwith Shetland and believe that there is a real opportunity to scale this up.”
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