Marine / ‘Exceptional’ first half of year for port authority
OIL-RELATED cargo into Lerwick Harbour surged by more than 80 per cent in the first half of 2025.
Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) said the huge rise, up to 35,090 tonnes, was thanks to support for subsea decommissioning projects and equipment being shipped into Shetland for other industry activities.
One contributing factor will be shipments of equipment for the Rosebank oil and gas development to the north east of Shetland arriving in Lerwick.
The harbour delivered a strong performance across several sectors in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2024.
Ship arrivals in Lerwick increased by seven percent to 2,752, including a 14 per cent jump in fishing vessels, and whitefish landings made a small jump to 111,156 boxes.
There was also a 10 per cent rise in visiting yachts due to the popularity of the Bergen-Shetland race and North Sea Triangle competition, and oil-related vessels were up by two per cent thanks in part to supporting the Rosebank field development.
Total cargo was up five per cent at 430,461 tonnes, including a four per cent increase in cargo on roll-on/roll-off ferries between Lerwick and Kirkwall/Aberdeen.
However the LPA said that due to “unplanned drydocking of ferries”, overall passenger numbers dropped by 13 per cent to 127,187.
“Fewer cruise ships at the start of the season, with adverse weather a factor, meant a 21 per cent drop in visiting passengers to 56,302,” it added.
That meant pilotage movements were also down to 603 for the first half of 2025, and the tonnage of vessels piloted by the LPA also dropped by 14 per cent to 7,478,742 gross tonnes.
LPA chief executive Captain Calum Grains said they had seen some “exceptional activity” in some of their key sectors so far this year.
“The latest figures underscore the port’s pivotal role in Shetland’s economy and the contribution by the wider supply chain, all of which points to a positive outlook,” he added.
It comes as the second phase of dredging works to enhance the LPA’s deep-water capabilities get under way, and with another 26 cruise ships expected in Lerwick before the end of the season in October.
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