Island harbour set to reap rewards of its £16.5m investment in new facilities

● Bosses at Lerwick anticipate increase in passengers on back of cruising boom

A £16.5 million investment at Lerwick Harbour on Shetland is expected to pay dividends with a record rise in passenger numbers forecast for the port this year.

Growth is being fuelled by the global increase in demand being seen across the cruise industry and the recently completed multi-purpose jetty at Lerwick Harbour is set to be used by a cruise ship for the first time in June when Viking Star berths.

Lerwick Port Authority has now commissioned a new facility at the Holmsgarth North jetty, to be used to provide a focal meet-and-greet station and as an information point for visitors.

The port is currently expecting almost 62,000 passengers this summer season, up 22 per cent on 2016’s total.

Gross tonnage of shipping is set to increase by more than 18 per cent to just under 2.6 million. The port is expecting 76 ships to call in this year.

Further records are expected in 2018, with 90 ships currently booked and more expected, with passenger numbers expected to reach almost 96,000. Bookings by larger capacity vessels are being credited with much of the forecast growth.

Victor Sandison, senior commercial executive at Lerwick Port Authority, said: “Continuing growth in the international cruise industry, our record bookings and our positive approach to industry requirements, including expanded infrastructure, all augur well for the port and the Shetland tourism sector in the future.”

The harbour suffered mixed fortunes in 2016 with oil-related traffic down 22.5 per cent.

Passengers through the port increased by 10 per cent to 184,487, thanks to a 67 per cent jump in visitors on cruise ships to 50,723.

Numbers on the Aberdeen and Orkney ferry routes held up well following completion of the onshore Shetland Gas Plant and an end to construction workers travelling by sea – passengers decreased by 2.7 per cent to 133,764.

Meanwhile, total fish landings at 57,000 tonnes were valued at some £57 million, down 10 per cent on volume but up 21 per cent on value.

Sandison added: “Holmsgarth North is a significant addition to our capacity to welcome cruise ships alongside at a time when the port is attracting more passengers.”

The outside arm of the jetty will be used initially for vessels up to 230 metres in length and Viking-class ships will be among a number to use Holmsgarth North this summer.

The jetty design was by Scots civil engineering firm Arch Henderson which also projectmanaged the construction.