News / Port optimistic
LERWICK Port Authority is looking back on a hugely successful year mainly driven by oil and gas developments on and off the islands.
Releasing its annual figures for 2013, the port said on Wednesday that the number of oil related vessels calling at Lerwick harbour was up by almost 10 per cent.
The increases in oil related tonnage and cargo handled were even more impressive at 28 per cent to 3.8 million gross tonnes and 36 per cent to 189,090 tonnes respectively.
A total of 5,416 vessels called at the port last year, up 4.9 per cent, with the tonnage of all ships ahead by 5.5 per cent to 13.2 million gross tonnes.
Fish landings also saw significant growth at 66,745 tonnes, valued at £62.5 million, an increase of 8.6 per cent on volume and 23 per cent on value.
The number of passengers travelling on the ferries between Lerwick and Orkney and Aberdeen increased by seven per cent to 133,028 in 2013.
However, the drop in the number of cruise liners calling at Lerwick resulted in a 29 per cent fall in the number of visitors to 26,684.
The port’s chief executive Sandra Laurenson said: “In a very busy year, our investment in enhanced facilities again paid off.
“On top of regular traffic, the port handled various projects demonstrating the capacity of the deep-water harbour, including storing and transhipping modules weighing up to 450 tonnes for the Shetland Gas Plant and accommodating several floatels housing construction workers.
“The cruise season was affected by one-off factors relating to specific operators. Bookings for this year indicate a strong recovery, with around 46,000 passengers expected.”
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