SSE’s choice of guard boats ‘a kick in the teeth’ for local fishing crews
A local fishing body has questioned the “community spirit” of SSE after guard work was handed to two vessels “masquerading” as local fishing boats.
Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) said SSE’s decision to award the contracts to Genesis and Dauntless – who were both recently registered in Lerwick – “flies in the face” of the companies promises to co-exist at sea with local crews.
The Genesis and Dauntless were previously registered in Banff, and are currently guarding interconnector cable work.
Steven Mair, a mate/engineer aboard the Sharyn Louise LK250, said guard work should help compensate fishing crews being inconvenienced by the development.
“In this case it’s the interconnector cable, which is causing a lot of disruption for Shetland fishermen – with closed areas of up to hundreds of metres to either side of the cable route.
“In the past, guard vessel duty has helped our boat diversify and make ends meet when quotas are tight.
“Now, we see SSE handing off this work to boats that no longer fish, have never been based in Shetland, employ no Shetland crew and have no Shetland ownership.
“It’s not right, and it’s a real kick in the teeth”.
SFA executive officer Daniel Lawson said this was “a real let-down”, adding it did not endear the community to the “already controversial project”.
Bob Marsh
As I mentioned on 7/3/23, don’t expect much from SSE, a company basically owned by big investors many of whom foreign. As per their onshore windfarms at Stronelairg and Dunmaglass their MO to acquire, build, then promptly sell 49.9% of windfarms, on and offshore, to pension funds and banks for more than the build costs, retaining majority ownership and management for basically no cost but huge increase in asset values and payments to shareholders. Scotland locals left with a pittance in payments related to earnings, visual eyesores, energy heading south, and huge energy bills. How was this ever sanctioned by the brain trusts in Edinburgh and Inverness. Add in Crown Estates donation of the seabed, phantom ferries needlessly costing a fortune, NHS in crisis, this is becoming a total crock. Jmo.
Rahmat Hidayat
I have experience for about 7 years in longline ship with flag japan and operate at capetown,mozambique,madagascar,saipan island or Guam