19 May 2008

LERWICK harbour will see the first cruise ship of the summer season arrive today (Monday) with an estimated 500 passengers on board.

The 190 metre, 28,856 gross tonne Amadea will be the first of an expected 45 vessels this season and is visiting Shetland from Ullapool then heading to Gudvangen in Norway.

The vessel is owned by German travel operator Phoenix Reisen and will be at anchor in the harbour with passengers being transferred ashore to the pontoon at Albert Dock, in the centre of town.

Chief executive of Lerwick Port Authority Sandra Laurenson said the port was looking forward to welcoming 45 cruise liners this year.

“We lost a few ships to the bad weather last year, so hopefully things will pan out a bit better this time,” she said.

Harbour records are due to be broken this year when the largest ship the port has ever hosted calls on the 19 September.

The 295 metre long, 93,502 gross tonnes Norwegian Jewel will have an expected 2,300 passengers on board and she will be the last ship of the season.

Next year, the largest cruise ship record is due to be broken twice, first by the 102,587 gross tonnes Costa Magica then by the 113,651 gross tonnes Crown Princess.