Busy week as boats seek shelter

POOR weather this week has meant a busy time at Lerwick harbour.

Many oil-related vessels came in for shelter, with the Bahamian seismic boat Fugro Meridian and Dominican supply boat Northern Mariner arriving on Friday. The large diving support vessel Seven Pelican came in for shelter and fresh water on Saturday, followed by the Norwegian supply boat Far Sapphire on Sunday.

The 25-metre Danish fishing boat Teide came in on Tuesday for engine repairs and berthed at the fishmarket. Engine repairs were also being carried out on the Bressay ferry Leirna, which had two days out of service. The ferry Fivla was brought in as a replacement.

Around the same time the 12-metre British work boat Calloo came in to the Malakoff slip.

The Petronordic has once again been just south of the harbour limits, and this week the harbour boat Kebister has made three visits to her to take crew ashore and back.

In a sign that winter is nearly here, the Kielder arrived from Tees-side yesterday with the first cargo of salt for the winter. The vessel last visited in January.

The mackerel season is in full swing with pelagic boats from Shetland, the UK and Ireland landing mackerel at Shetland Catch.

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Duo of tankers leave Sullom Voe

ONLY two tankers left Sullom Voe this week. The Forward Pioneer sailed to Pembroke last Thursday with 90,819 tonnes of crude and on Sunday the Cape Akrotiri sailed to Portland with 83,250 tonnes of crude.

There were also two Schiehallion imports.

The Hanne Knutsen arrived at Sullom Voe with 27,895 tonnes last Friday, followed by the Loch Rannoch with 48,316 tonnes on Tuesday.

There was one Schiehallion export – the Monte Umbe sailed to Bilboa with 81,779 tonnes on Monday.

There were no ship to ship transfers.