Sandra Laurenson News

Scottish Government identifies Dales Voe in Lerwick in Shetland  as “preferred site” for an "ultra deep water" decommissioning port after UK-wide feasibility study.Scotland’s supply chain could be set to win more large scale decommissioning projects, after Dales Voe in Shetland has been identified as the optimal location for an ultra-deep water port.The Lerwick location was selected following a UK-wide feasibility study, conducted by Ernst and Young, has as the optimal and most cost effective location for decommissioning work.The announcement has been made as key figures from oil and gas operators, service companies and other key stakeholders…

The opening of the offshore season in northern waters has seen specialist oil industry vessels return to Lerwick Harbor during April to support subsea development projects. This month has also brought the first cruise ship of the year to the Shetland port for what promises to be a record-breaking cruise season. Lerwick Port Authority Chief Executive, Sandra Laurenson, commented: “The positive signs are encouraging, after a fall in traffic during the first quarter. We expect the harbor to be busy servicing field developments west of Shetland through to September, albeit in a continuing depressed market. Our best-by-far cruise season yet – significantly up on last year – will run to October, with a high level of bookings already for 2017 and beyond.

The downturn in offshore industry operations, a cyclical cruise season and lower fish landings have combined to reduce activity at Lerwick Harbor in the first nine months of 2015. Sandra Laurenson, Lerwick Port Authority Chief Executive, said: “We knew that the peak activity levels we enjoyed in recent years would not continue and our forecasts for the year to date are on target to match our predictions for 2015. Vessel arrivals between January and September were virtually unchanged – up 24 at 3,874 compared to the same period in 2014, with the tonnage down 4% at 9.2 million gross tonnes, reflecting oil-related and cruise markets. Cargo handled was down 11% at 811,018 tonnes, including a 12% drop in offshore shipments.

Lerwick Harbour is making ready for a surprise visit by the 123 metre cruise ship Hanseatic. The 8,378 gross tonnes vessel carrying 144 mainly German passengers is due to arrive at 1200 noon on Sunday 27 September from Seydisfjordur and will berth at Victoria Pier East before sailing again at approximately 2000 hrs for Kirkwall. Chief Executive, Sandra Laurenson commented “We are pleased to have been able to accommodate Hanseatic at short notice and our meet and greet team will be on-hand to provide their warm and friendly Shetland welcome to passengers and crew on their arrival.

The yacht Serenity, skippered by Fridtjov Bergmann, proudly flies the Bergen Shetland Blue Ribbon as first to finish this year’s race across the North Sea from Norway. He later received Lerwick Port Authority's trophy for first yacht over the line, at 20:56 hours on Thursday, 26 June, from the Authority’s Chief Executive, Sandra Laurenson. Serenity finished in under 33 hours, four minutes ahead of Scirocco III. The 30 yachts and 167 crew leave Lerwick on the second, return leg on Sunday. Totalling 388 nautical miles, the annual race was first held in 1986 and is organised by Hordaland Sailing Association in Norway, in association with Lerwick Boating Club.

The importance of investment in the Shetland fishing industry has been highlighted today by Lerwick Port Authority Chief Executive, Sandra Laurenson. The industry – white fish, pelagic, shellfish and aquaculture – is the biggest single contributor to the islands' economy, more than the four other main business categories combined. Commenting ahead of the annual Fishing Expo exhibition in Aberdeen, where the Authority will participate, Ms Laurenson said: "The trends are positive, with recent and current investment across many in the sector including new boats and vessel upgrades, modernised processing, additional infrastructure and the local supply chain.

Lerwick's importance as a gateway for Shetland’s communities and industries is underlined by an increase in passenger traffic, cargo handled and fish landed in 2014. Passengers were up 11.8% to 179,352, with numbers on the roll-on/roll-off nightly ferries between the port and Kirkwall and Aberdeen increased by 2% to 135,629 compared with the previous year, despite the two vessels being off-route in sequence for a total five weeks for biennial servicing. A recovery in cruise traffic saw passengers up by 64% to 43,723. The tonnage of all cargo shipments across the deep-water harbour’s near-4,000 metres of quays increased 2% to 1,192,286 tonnes. Fish landings totalled 69,973 tonnes, valued at £61.2 million – up 4.7% on volume and down 2.4% on value.

The Board of Lerwick Port Authority is strengthening its senior management team in support of continuing activity and development at the busy harbour. The move follows an external organisational review, particularly looking at the staff resource required to sustain the high level of activity in all areas including marine operations and managing its extensive property portfolio. Recruitment to a new position of Commercial Director will commence in the new year. There are currently two executive positions on the Authority’s Board with Chief Executive, Sandra Laurenson, holding one. Harbourmaster Captain Calum Grains has been appointed to the Board in the position of Harbourmaster and Deputy Chief Executive with immediate effect.

A continuing increase in cargo handled at Lerwick Harbour in the third quarter brought the volume for the first nine months of 2014 to 910,014 tonnes, up 6% on the same period last year. Shipments included 144,243 tonnes of oil-related cargo, a rise of 4.5%. There was a 14.7% increase in passengers to 154,381, with ferry passengers on the Aberdeen and Kirkwall routes up 4% to 111,357 and cruise passengers by 61% to a record 43,024. The 3,850 arrivals were down 8%, with the tonnage of vessels lower by 8% at 9.6 million gross tonnes. As forecast, oil-related arrivals decreased, by 5.8% to 503, with the tonnage at 2.3 million gross tonnes, down 27%, in comparison to the same period last year when there was a spike in activity due to one-off projects.

Lerwick Port Authority has awarded a construction contract for the latest expansion of the harbour’s facilities in a project costing a total of £16.5 million and which will benefit the fishing and oil sectors. The new jetty at Holmsgarth North will provide deeper berthing and more working area for the fishing fleet, while the outer arm of the L-shaped jetty will create a dock sheltering a planned new white fish market. The outer arm will also be suitable for berthing offshore industry vessels. Local company, Tulloch Developments Ltd, has been appointed main contractor. Site set-up will start before Christmas and the main works in the new year, with completion in autumn, 2016. Construction is expected to employ up to 50, helping to secure employment.

Increases in cargo, passengers and mackerel landings helped the Port of Lerwick achieve forecast traffic levels in the half-year to June, 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. The total for all cargoes handled at the port rose 8%, with combined ferry and cruise passengers jumping 13.8%. The number of vessel arrivals, at 2,230, was down 11%, mainly due to a decrease in fishing vessels – also reflected in white fish landings which declined due to bad weather in the early part of the year, vessel refits and boats on charter to the oil industry. The tonnage of vessels at 5.5 million gross tonnes was down 10%, principally due to an expected decrease in offshore industry bulk carriers/pipe-burying vessels compared with project work last year.

Lerwick Harbour is ready for an exciting week of sailing with the 2014 Fireball European Championships taking place at the port next week. As a warm-up to the main event, the Shetland Fireball Championships will be held this afternoon and tomorrow. 27 boats are expected to enter the European Championships with international crews arriving from the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Ireland as well as the UK mainland. A number of the entrants are local boats looking forward to racing in their home waters. The travelling boats have arrived on trailers via NorthLink Ferries together with two crewmembers for each boat, accompanied by friends and family. Keen competition is expected as well as renewal of friendships made in previous championships, including when last at Lerwick in 2003.

Lerwick Harbor is set to cast off for a summer of sailing with a series of local and international events attracting several hundred crew, beginning this week with the arrival of entrants in the Round Britain & Ireland Yacht Race. Sandra Laurenson, Lerwick Port Authority Chief Executive, said: ”The harbour will again be playing host to a number of sailing enthusiasts, many of them repeat visitors, meeting and competing in the established races and underlining the popularity of the port and Shetland with yachting crews. • The Round Britain & Ireland Yacht Race, operated by the Royal Western Yacht Club and held every four years, with the 13 remaining entries en route clockwise around Britain and Ireland from a start in Plymouth on 1 June.

Three Members of Lerwick Port Authority have been re-appointed to the Board of the Authority. Three existing Business Ratepayer Members were the only applicants for the three positions. Brian Anderson, Harry Jamieson and Ronnie Gair all applied to serve a further three year term until July 2017. Their applications have been approved under the procedures set down by Government guidelines and the Authority’s own legislation. Lerwick Port Authority is a Trust Port which follows UK Government guidelines for Board membership. These guidelines define Board Members’ responsibilities on their appointment as Trustees of the port. Port Authority Chief Executive…

The fishing industry will be the main beneficiary of the next major project in the continuing development of Lerwick Harbor where the construction of a large new jetty at Holmsgarth North is due to begin in the third quarter this year. It will provide deeper berthing and more working area for the fishing fleet, while the outer arm of the L-shaped jetty will create a dock sheltering a planned new white fish market. The outer arm will also be suitable for offshore industry vessels. Extending to over 630 metres, with ultimately 10 metres of water alongside, the Holmsgarth North project is scheduled for completion, at an estimated cost of £17 million, at end 2015. It will be followed by the construction of the market, timetabled to start in early 2016 at Mair’s Quay.

The fishing industry will be the main beneficiary of the next major project in the continuing development of Lerwick Harbor where the construction of a large new jetty at Holmsgarth North is due to begin in the third quarter this year. It will provide deeper berthing and more working area for the fishing fleet, while the outer arm of the L-shaped jetty will create a dock sheltering a planned new white fish market. The outer arm will also be suitable for offshore industry vessels. Extending to over 630 metres, with ultimately 10 metres of water alongside, the Holmsgarth North project is scheduled for completion, at an estimated cost of £17 million, at end 2015. It will be followed by the construction of the market, timetabled to start in early 2016 at Mair’s Quay.

Lerwick Harbour recorded strong performances across various key sectors in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period in 2013. However, seasonal factors impacted negatively on passenger traffic in particular. • Cargo across the near-4,000 metres of quays increased 19% to 282,060 tonnes. • It included 43,388 tonnes of oil-related shipments, up 60% due to movement of heavy items, such as offshore anchor chains, and increased supplies. • Fish landings totalled 32,577 tonnes, valued at £33 million – up 40% on volume and 57% on value. Bad weather in the North Sea hit the scheduled month-early start to the cruise season, with only one of three vessels due in March reaching Lerwick, bringing 609 passengers.