Hans J Marter

22 January, 2009

SHETLAND could get another drydocking facility if initial research carried out by the islands' council be taken further.

A report before Shetland Islands Council’s development committee this morning (Thursday) says the seafaring and engineering industry in the isles would benefit from a floating dock.

They will have to decide whether they want to take the proposal forward and engage a specialist consultant for a detailed study.

The last floating dock in the islands was taken over by the council’s Shetland Development Trust after its owner Malakoff & Wm. Moore shipyard went into receivership in January 2003.

The 8,000 tonne facility was eventually sold to Norwegian company Eide Marine Service A/S, in 2005.

Four years later, the case for a drydock is being made once again to serve the local SIC ferry fleet, pelagic trawlers, harbour pilot boats and tugs, as well as attract business from neighbouring island groups.

The report states that an existing slipway, operated by Malakoff Ltd, can only accommodate half of the isles’ ferry fleet and that trips to shiplifting facilities on the Scottish mainland were expensive.

"Given the composition of the Shetland economy and its geographical position in relation to sea traffic, we should have a drydock/shiplifting to take advantage of this, rather than sending vessels, labour and money to the mainland," it says.

A drydock suitable for the islands' needs would need to be able to lift the larger 65 metre SIC ferries Daggri and Dagalien, and could be located either in Lerwick, or Sella Ness, where the council runs the oil port of Sullom Voe.

The report says that the saving for the council alone could be significant. The average cost for using the Malakoff slipway was quoted at around £15,000 per vessel, while trips to a mainland based slipway cost around £53,500 per vessel per year.

The report continues: "This facility would be in a very advantageous position to compete for business outside SIC operations.

"Local businesses such as aquaculture and oil supply services would be able to improve efficiency and overheads in the same area as SIC.

"Location and deep water mean that a shiplifting facility in Shetland would be an attractive proposition for companies in Faroe, Iceland, Norway and Orkney, as well as for companies operating in the North Sea and West of Shetland oil and gas fields."