UK Union Plans July Strike at Oil and Gas Terminal
UK's Unite union's Scotland unit on Tuesday said talks to prevent industrial action at Sullom Voe Terminal have ended with no movement on the part of Shetland Islands Council (SIC) to resolve the dispute over a long service award.Unless the Council accepts liability, around 40 towage workers employed by SIC are set to begin an overtime ban on July 5, which will continue over a seven-week period, the union said.The ban would hugely disrupt the multi-million-pound contract to bring oil tankers on to the shore for oil processing and also on production for the Brent and Ninian fields, it added.
Shetland Race Yachts Due at Lerwick
The annual Shetland Race from Bergen will be at Lerwick from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 June. 2016 marks the 30th annual race which started in 1987 – that first year with only one competitor actually making the trip but it still ranked as a qualifying race. From 1988 the race has attracted a good number of entries annually. Currently, 34 yachts are entered bringing up to 200 sailors to Lerwick. The entries are predominantly Norwegian but there are two British flagged yachts participating including local yacht Roundabout skippered by Tommy Allan. There is also a German entry, and a previous Scottish prizewinner Erin skippered by John Murphy of Port Edgar Yacht Club. The timings of the race at Lerwick are slightly different this year.
MAN Diesel L27/38 Engine for Tugs
MAN Diesel Spain has been active within the tug segment recently, having played a key role in three orders that contract the company to supply 18 MAN Diesel L27/38 engines to Boluda Corporación Marítima, Spain, the international marine group and shipbuilder. The engines are destined for nine newbuilding tugs; ten engines were already delivered in 2009 with the remainder due in 2010/2011. The three orders encompass two engines for the V.B. Bravo, owned by Boluda Corporación Marítima through its subsidiary AUXMASA…
New Paintjob for Sullom Voe Tugs
The five bright red tugs operating at the Sullom Voe Terminal are soon to display the blue and white corporate colors of their new owner. Shetland Towage, a company wholly owned by the Shetland Charitable Trust, was incorporated into the Shetland Islands Council's ports and harbor operation on February 10, in a bid to streamline operations at the harbor and to cut costs. The first of the tugs is expected to be back in the isles from dry-docking in late June, when it will be sporting a blue hull and white superstructure, similar to the look of the council's fleet of inter island ferries. (Source: Shetland Marine News)
Shetland to Cut Ferry Costs
Shetland Islands Council may set up an arms length company to run its inter island ferries in a bid to stave off potential competition on the route, while saving the authority $1 million over three years. Councilors will decide whether to implement proposals put forward by a working group which has spent the past year examining ways of improving the SIC's expensive ferry service. Proposals include setting up a private firm to run the ferries, employing crews through an offshore company and reducing staff at the ferry operations center, at Sella Ness. Consultants Strategic Transport Solutions (STS) have advised that the council could save money by creating an independent company which would not have to maintain wages at local authority levels through the single status agreement.
Wynn Dual Wiper System to Debut on New Ferry
Wynn Marine has designed a new one motor, dual window wiper system for a new ferry being built for the Shetland Islands Council. second of a pair of vessels out of the Northern Shipyards, Gdansk, Poland and is due for delivery in April 2003. already been launched. priorities in the design stages. motor. but also more cost effective to the shipyard, and the owners. Parker, Sales Manager at Wynn. hard-wearing, but also great value for money,” added Parker.
