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29 January, 2010
THE CONSTRUCTION of two new deep water quays is set to start
later this year, Lerwick Port Authority said yesterday
(Thursday).
Presenting its annual statistics for 2009,
the port presented an upbeat outlook for the coming years.
Chief executive Sandra Laurenson said that the strategy to
develop the port as a deep-water hub serving the offshore
oil and gas industry was already paying off.
In a year that saw a slight decrease in overall traffic and
a rather sharp fall in general oil and gas traffic, the port
nevertheless managed to achieve big rises in the number of
larger diving support vessels and construction ships using
the harbour.
Figures released yesterday show that the number of such
vessels using the port increased in 2009 by 40 per cent to
59, with the gross tonnage up 53 per cent to 459,708 gross
tonnes.
Such vessels were a target market following the extensive
dredging programme as part of a £12 million project in 2008,
Ms Laurenson said, adding that the construction of two
additional deep-water quays were due to commence this year.
Overall, arrivals at Lerwick Harbour were down four per cent
on 2008 at 5,330 vessels, with the tonnage lower by 4.2 per
cent at 9.1 million gross tonnes.
The trend is also reflected in a 12.9 per cent drop in cargo
handled, down to 823,753 tonnes, due mainly to the level of
activity in the offshore industry. |
Lerwick's key role as a
passenger terminal is underlined by a 10 per cent increase
to 143,527, with ferry passengers up 5.1 per cent at 119,381
and visitors arriving by cruise ship increasing by 40 per
cent on the previous year to 24,146.
Fish landings for the year were 70,397 tonnes, valued at
£60.8 million, down slightly on tonnage and value compared
to 2008.
The main decrease in tonnage was due to a change in
operation of the Bressay fishmeal plant, resulting in no
blue whiting being landed there last season.
Whitefish at 9,608 tonnes worth £15.7 million was down 4.5
per cent on volume and 1.8 per cent on value, with the price
per tonne, up 2.85 per cent to an average of £1,642 per
tonne.
In the pelagic sector, mackerel landings held steady, with
an increased value. Herring landings were down considerably
due to a very short summer season.
Shellfish landings were at a similar volume to 2008, with a
decreased value.
Ms Laurenson, said: "Even with the economic situation having
some impact, there were still positive trends for the
harbour's future - for example, as a deep-water and
passenger port, and we have every expectation that volumes
will increase again.
"There are exciting deep-water developments to come west of
Shetland, and we are well placed to support the large subsea
support vessels which undertake these.
"Announcements this week of tax breaks for gas developments
there and of another licensing round, including blocks
around Shetland, add to the positive outlook."
She added that the authority was expecting another increase
in cruise passenger traffic in 2010.
"The authority has held port charges for 2010 at last year's
level to help ensure the harbour's competitiveness and we
remain committed to further development of facilities and
services," she said. |
