22 March, 2007

SHETLAND ISLANDS COUNCIL is expected to announce today (Thursday) that a £14 million order to build two new tugs has been placed with a Spanish shipyard.

The council, which runs the oil port at Sullom Voe, is in the process of replacing two of its existing five tugs.

The cost of the tugs will be borne by council reserves and will not impact on the local authority's capital budget.