Harbour busier

Traffic at Lerwick Harbour increased by 9.4 per cent last year compared to the previous year, a meeting of Lerwick Port Authority heard this week.

The main increase was in fishing boat arrivals, the numbers of which shot up from 2,065 in 2007 to 2,300 in 2008.

The next biggest increase was in tug traffic, with 218 last year compared to 139 in 2007.

Oil rig supply boats made 391 visits in 2008, up by 90 from 2007, and workboats also showed an increase, with 118 visits in 2008 compared to 81 in 2007.

There was also a noticeable rise in the number of visiting yachts. In 2007 there were 404 – last year there were 430, an increase of 26. However cruise ship visits were very slightly down, with 41 visits last year compared to 42 in 2007.

Other decreases were in ro-ro vessels, down by 15 last year to 558, stand-by vessels, down by 15 to 133, and tankers, down by 15 to 85, compared to 100 the previous year.

Chief executive of Lerwick Port Authority Sandra Laurenson said: “We are very encouraged that ships’ traffic to the harbour has gone up, long may it continue.”