Also in the news / NorthLink fundraising, Swan donation, Clair oil agreement, fishing funding, road repairs, gravestone reminder

STAFF on NorthLink’s Hjaltland and Hrossey – as well as their friends – have raised more than £3,400 for charity after walking from the ferry terminal in Lerwick to Scalloway on Saturday.

They are raising money for MS Society Scotland.

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ROYALTIES from sales of John Goodlad’s book The Cod Hunters – worth around £4,000 – have been donated to the Swan Trust.

“When my book was published, I said that, if sales were sufficient to generate any royalties, then these would be donated to The Swan Trust,” Goodlad said.

“The Swan Trust provides a vital role in keeping our maritime heritage alive, whilst also offering sail training and other opportunities for our current and future generations, and I am proud to support their activities.

“The book is still selling well so I hope there may be more royalty payments in years to come.”

Swan Trust chairman David Goodlad said the charity was delighted with the donation and said that funding is “vital to keeping the Swan going”.

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BP, Baker Hughes and Odfjell Drilling have entered into an agreement to work together to “transform platform drilling and completions activity” at the BP-operated Clair oil field west of Shetland.

A new five-year agreement, with the option to extend for a further four years, the Clair alliance aims to improve production across Clair, initially targeting a 15 per cent increase in average annual production on Clair Ridge, the second phase development of the field.

BP said this will be achieved through drilling the best quality wells safely and more efficiently and harnessing the skills and expertise of each company in a single collaborative team.

Oil from the Clair field currently runs by pipeline into Sullom Voe Terminal.

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NEW entrants to fishing will be able to apply for funding towards the purchase of a second hand fishing vessel.

The support is being made available through Marine Fund Scotland (MFS), with young fishers under the age of 40 able to apply for up to 75 per cent of the purchase of an existing vessel with a registered length of up to 16 metres.

Funding of up to 50 per cent towards the cost of a vessel over 16 metres and up to 24 metres is also available.

MFS is the Scottish Government’s replacement to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) following the UK’s exit from the EU.

Cabinet secretary for rural affairs Mairi Gougeon said Marine Fund Scotland puts “more of an emphasis on getting new entrants into the industry and helping those who wish to progress their career and become a vessel owner”.

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SINGLE track roads in Shetland will be targeted for road repairs using a specialist vehicle in the coming month.

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The ‘Roadmaster Patcher’ vehicle is back in Shetland this week, for its fourth annual visit, to carry out mobile repairs to potholes and other road surface defects.

The vehicle carries a supply of chips and bitumen and can quickly repair small potholes using a robotic arm, without the need for road closures.

Drivers are warned to expect some short delays on single track roads when the vehicle completes a repair, before it moves on to the nearest passing place.

The programme of patching will last for four weeks, starting this week. 

Locations identified for repairs include:

·       Kinkwall and Snarraness in the West Mainland;

·       Swining, Vidlin School Road and Bardister in the North Mainland;

·       South Whiteness and Vatsetter in the Central Mainland;

·       Scarfataing and Troswick in the South Mainland;

·       and Gossabrough and Bugarth in Yell.

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PEOPLE have been reminded that they need to contact a stonemason who has been approved by the council to complete repairs on memorials which have a safety notice, or which have been braced with wooden supports.

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Details of approved stonemasons can be found here. https://www.shetland.gov.uk/births-marriages-deaths/burial-services

People will also need to complete a memorial permit application form.  Folk can contact burial services on 01595 744853 or 744898, or email burials@shetland.gov.uk to find out more.

Vice chair of the SIC’s environment and transport committee Robbie McGregor said: “The council is responsible for 70 burial grounds across the isles, and it’s really important that they are safe to visit.

“Finally, I’d like to reassure anyone who may find it difficult to fund any repairs that the burial service will do what they can to help – just get in touch.”