Lerwick harbour is getting a boost from is increasing use by larger oil and cruise-industry vessels.
The tonnage of vessels in the first nine months of 2012 increased by 10% on the same period last year to 9.7million gross tonnes and already matches the annual total for 2010.
The rise came despite a drop in the number of arrivals – at 4,058, down 2.8% on January-September, 2011. Reasons for this included fewer fishing vessels, salmon well boats and yachts.
Victor Sandison, deputy chief executive at Lerwick Port Authority, said: “The tonnage rise has been generated by the increasing use of the harbour by larger oil-related and cruise-industry vessels in particular. It also reflects a busy time for our harbour pilots, with 1,046 pilotage movements for the period, up 14%, with 7.7million gross tonnes of vessels piloted, up 28%, compared with the same nine months in 2011.”
With 484 oil-related arrivals, up 13.6%, and the tonnage of vessels up 50% at 2.2million gross tonnes, the sector was responsible for 52% more cargo, at 107,427 tonnes. Total cargo at Lerwick’s quays to the end of September rose 15.3% to 745,900 tonnes.
In a record-breaking season, cruise passengers increased by 22% to 37,572. Ferry passengers decreased by 5.4% to 100,867.
Fish landings totalled 40,805 tonnes, worth £32.7million, down 18% on volume and 42% on value. White fish, at 7,271 tonnes, was worth £12.1million, up 7% on volume but down 1.8% on value, with the price per tonne decreasing by 8% to an average of £1,665. Pelagic fish at 33,112 tonnes was worth £19.7million, down 22% on volume and 53% on value. While there has been a much larger volume of summer herring landed at the port, the mackerel fishery is unlikely to match 2011’s highs.