Port authority signs deal for monitoring system

Lerwick Port Authority has signed a £450,000 contract with high-tech navigation company Transas to provide a new Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for the harbour.

The new system is necessary to replace the existing system for Lerwick Harbour.

It will be installed at four sites covering the harbour area: the main port operations building and three remote stations at Rova Head, Maryfield and Kirkabister, monitoring the northern approaches, inner harbour and southern approaches respectively.

As part of the project the port control, located in Albert Building, will be fully renovated and Transas will closely collaborate with the authority to design a new layout for the service in the building.

Local firm H Williamson & Sons has been contracted to install the and maintain the equipment,

Deputy harbourmaster Alexander Simpson said the new system would modernise Lerwick Harbour’s monitoring system, improving real-time information available to the controllers handling shipping movements and the navigational assistance provided by port control.

Capt Simpson said: “The investment is another important step in our ongoing development programme which is adding to the port’s capacity and competitiveness.”

The project, costing around £450,000 including the Transas contract, telecommunications and civil works, is scheduled to be fully completed and delivered by May next year.

Lerwick Harbour regularly handles more than 5,000 vessel arrivals, totalling over 12,000,000 gross tonnes annually, and users include fishing, oil and gas support, cargo, sailing, ferries and cruises.

The new VMS will be based on the high-end Navi-Harbour software solution from Transas.