Lerwick Harbour attracted higher-than-forecast offshore industry traffic last year as the increasingly buoyant oil and gas sector generated more activity at the deep-water port’s expanding facilities.
Figures released by Lerwick Port Authority show that number of offshore industry vessels using Lerwick rose 9% last year to 623, compared with 2011, with the tonnage of shipping at 3 million gross tonnes up 52%. Oil-related cargo jumped 40% to 138,750 tonnes.
Port Authority Chief Executive, Sandra Laurenson , said: “ The continuing increase in offshore industry traffic reinforces our investment strategy, including the deep-water quay completed early almost a year ago to meet demand and the commitment to build an extension this year. We are projecting more growth in 2013, with support for ongoing decommissioning work and more field development projects, in particular.
Sandra Laurenson continued: “ There was a strong performance across various sectors in 2012 and the good signs for 2013 aren’t limited to the offshore industry.
“Last year’s record cruise season shows what can be achieved by all-round efforts and, with 45 vessels currently booked, we’re looking forward to another busy period.
“Recent announcements on annual quotas for white fish are reasonably positive for the industry which deserves all the encouragement it can get. Our support for the sector includes currently building a new quay which will be the location for a proposed replacement whitefish market.”
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Press Release, January 30, 2013