Onshore Viking Wind Farm project has given a one-off boost to Lerwick Port Authority’s activity in the first three month of the year. The new vessel arrivals and tonnage helped the port authority surpass its forecast start of the year. 

There were 1,047 vessel arrivals in the first quarter of 2023 (16 per cent more than the same period in 2022), representing gross tonnage of 1.98 million tonnes (10 per cent more than 2022). The nature of the arrivals meant that Pilotage was also up 27 per cent, with 152 vessels assisted (gross tonnage 833,867), compared to 120 (gross tonnage 417,642).

Cargo figures at 185,894 tonnes were similar to the same quarter the previous year, showing the impacts of Viking Wind Farm from construction materials on the roll-on/roll-off ferries in 2022 and shipments of turbine components in 2023.

Lerwick Port Authority Chief Executive, Captain Calum Grains said, “We are delighted to see harbour activity up and welcome the boost which the arrival of the Viking Wind Farm components has provided in this first quarter. Work continues to support all the sectors traditionally serviced by the port, including ongoing efforts to attract further decommissioning projects and the plan to build an Ultra-Deep-Water Quay at Dales Voe.”

2022 jump

During 2022, the port welcomed 4,786 vessels, 15 per cent more than the previous year and representing 12.2 million gross tonnes of shipping (37 per cent increase in comparison to 2021), which included the delivery of the Ninian Northern jacket in April 2022 for decommissioning and the return of cruise ships in a busy summer season.

Captain Grains said, “After a challenging few years, port operations returned to pre-pandemic levels as we closed out 2022. The positive result provides us with the ability and confidence to look forward again and plan for positive investment in our harbour infrastructure.”