Less tonnage, fewer vessels

As predicted, there was a decrease in both Vessels and tonnage in the harbour last month, according to the Lerwick Port Authority’s monthly meeting on Tuesday.

The harbourmaster’s report stated that there had been a decrease compared with the same month in 2008 of 12.1 per cent in vessels and 27.6 per cent in tonnage. A decrease in arrivals of oil-related vessels and ro-ro ferries were among the reasons.

Port authority chief executive Sandra Laurenson said the decrease could be explained by the fact there has been less decommissioning activity occurring this month as well as the high number of in-water surveys which took place last year.