Business / Cruise ship season under way as Fridtjof Nansen docks at Victoria Pier
THIS year’s cruise ship season kicked off in style on Wednesday when the brand new Hurtigruten vessel Fridtjof Nansen sailed into Lerwick harbour.
Named after the famous polar explorer, the 140-metre hybrid battery-powered expedition ship arrived from Bergen on her maiden visit to Lerwick and berthed at Victoria Pier at about noon.
Lerwick Port Authority cruise manager Melanie Henderson said: “It’s always good to have an early start, maintaining the recent trend for seasons to extend at both ends, into February and October.”
There are currently 115 vessels with more than 90,000 passengers on board booked to call at Lerwick during 2020, up 16 per cent on the previous best in 2019 and including 15 maiden calls.
The largest ship Splendida at 137,936 gross tonnes and up to 4,363 passengers and 1,370 crew is due in August.
The Fridtjof Nansen is due to sail for Kirkwall later tonight.
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