Having recently completed 25 years service with Lerwick Port Authority, harbour pilot Charles Smith is pictured being congratulated by the Chairman of the Authority.
In 1986 Charles started as a Port Controller based in Harbour House and became a pilot in 1990. Among the almost 6,000 vessels he has piloted to date are the largest ship to berth alongside in Lerwick Harbour (44,500 tonne Artemis in 2009) and the longest ship to visit the port (300m Solitaire in 2005).
Pictured (left to right) from Lerwick Port Authority are: Chief Executive Sandra Laurenson, Harbour Pilot Charles Smith, Harbourmaster Capt. Calum Grains and Chairman Brian Anderson.