Lerwick Harbour development continues with new jetty construction

The fishing industry will be the main beneficiary of the next major project in the continuing development of Lerwick Harbour where the construction of a large new jetty at Holmsgarth North is due to begin in the third quarter this year.

It will provide deeper berthing and more working area for the fishing fleet, while the outer arm of the L-shaped jetty will create a dock sheltering a planned new white fish market. The outer arm will also be suitable for offshore industry vessels.

Extending to over 630 metres, with ultimately 10 metres of water alongside, the Holmsgarth North project is scheduled for completion, at an estimated cost of £17 million, at end 2015.

It will be followed by the construction of the market, timetabled to start in early 2016 at Mair’s Quay.  The quay was completed last year and has already brought benefits to the fleet.  It will be the berthing area used for net repair and working with fishing gear during the construction of the large new jetty.

Sandra Laurenson, Lerwick Port Authority Chief Executive, said: “The commitment by the Port Authority to develop these next projects for the fishing industry will secure Lerwick as a leading fishing port in the UK and complement the excellent service provision for the fleet available here in Shetland.  The main economic driver for this community is the marine sector and by meeting the requirements for fish landings in the future, that economy can flourish.”

The positive approach by the Port Authority is underlined by increased fish landings. Latest figures, for the first quarter, show a total of 32,577 tonnes landed, valued at £33.14 million, up 40% on tonnage and 57% on value compared to the same period in 2013.  

                                                                                          

Oil-related shipments up 60% at Lerwick Harbour

MIXED FORTUNES AT LERWICK HARBOUR IN FIRST QUARTER

Increased cargo but fewer passengers

Lerwick Harbour recorded strong performances across various key sectors in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period in 2013. However, seasonal factors impacted negatively on passenger traffic in particular.

• Cargo across the near-4,000 metres of quays increased 19% to 282,060 tonnes.

• It included 43,388 tonnes of oil-related shipments, up 60% due to movement of heavy items, such as offshore anchor chains, and increased supplies.

• Fish landings totalled 32,577 tonnes, valued at £33 million – up 40% on volume and 57% on value.

Bad weather in the North Sea hit the scheduled month-early start to the cruise season, with only one of three vessels due in March reaching Lerwick, bringing 609 passengers. With the combination of January’s poor weather conditions and biennial refits for the two roll-on/roll-off ferries on the Aberdeen/Kirkwall routes reducing sailings, the overall passenger total was down 11% at 18,532.  

Lerwick remained open during the severe weather, attracting a large increase in offshore-related supply and standby vessels. With twice as many supply vessels, the number of offshore vessels was up by 13% to 137, but the tonnage of offshore ships, at 553,550 gross tonnes, was down 16%, with fewer large construction vessels early-year.    Overall ship arrivals for the quarter were down 5% to 913, with the tonnage down 15% at two million tonnes. 

There were 286 pilotage movements during the period – up 10%, with the 1.2 million gross tonnes of vessels piloted down 21%.

White fish landings totalled 2,261 tonnes, valued at £3.4 million – down 5.7% on volume and up 4.8 % on value, with the price per tonne up 11% to average £1,528 per tonne.

In the pelagic sector, winter mackerel landings were substantially up in volume and value, with landings extending well into February. However, autumn 2014 mackerel landings are uncertain, with the large increase in available quota coinciding with what is expected to be a weak market, such as in Ukraine, Russia and Nigeria.

Sandra Laurenson, Lerwick Port Authority Chief Executive, said: “The January gales meant an unusual start to the year, but with spring here, the cruise and offshore construction seasons are underway.  While 2013 will be a hard act to follow for activity, we have two new berths available since this time last year.  Combined with new laydown sites becoming operational soon, Lerwick has plenty of capacity for offshore projects. Healthy cargo traffic and sustained fish landings are underpinning our next developments, scheduled for later this year.”

Oil wealth-fuelled Shetland independence would be 'too greedy' - council leader

BBC Scotland's business and economy editor, Douglas Fraser, has been told by Shetland Islands Council political leader Gary Robinson that it would be 'too greedy' for Shetland to go for independence from either Scotland or the UK, funded by its hydrocarbon income.

Full story here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/correspondents/douglasfraser/

100 jobs to be created at Sullom Voe by BP

A £600m investment by BP at Sullom Voe in Shetland will see 100 new jobs created.
BBC story here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-27070041

New gas sweetening plant and reorganising of workforce rota system on 'offshore' basis, aimed at attracting specialised skills from outside the isles.

Shetland Times story here: http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2014/04/17/boom-time-again-at-sullom-voe/

Shetland "quite smart at avoiding busts and troughs"

BBC Scotland business and economy editor Douglas Fraser was in Shetland last week and has produced reports in various media on the busy and buoyant economy her found. He looked at oil and gas, renewables, decommissioning, new dimensions in the Shetland fiddle, and seafood

His BBC blog is here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-26903854

The Business Scotland BBC Radio Scotland report is on iPlayer for seven days from broadcast (05/04/14) here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03zqlz4

New Arctic sea passage could make Shetland shipping hub

Arctic ice-melt could lead to new 'North-East Passage' and need for a container port in Shetland, says Professor Chris Harvie in wide-ranging piece for Scottish Review.

http://www.scottishreview.net/ChrisHarvie150.shtml

Also tackles renewable energy and North Sea decommissioning.

Seaweed energy? Shetland project could provide fuel for future

Cultivated Shetland seaweed could provide a fuel for the future both in the isles and as an export, according to a scientist from the North Atlantic Fisheries College (NAFC)Marine Centre in Scalloway.

 A Coastal Communities Fund grant of £290,000 has been awarded to the centre for a project aimed at developing local seaweed cultivation. 


Full story from The Shetland Times here. http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2014/03/12/290000-to-develop-seaweed-growing/