Around 60 guests attended a cermony on Tuesday 13 October 2009 to mark the offical inauguration of Lerwick Port Authority's 2008 dredging & land reclamation project.
After being welcomed by Port Authority Chairman, Brian Anderson, guests heard industry perspectives from Mike Porter, Managing Director of Peterson SBS and John Goodlad, Chairman of Shetland Catch before Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure & Climate Change unveiled a framed navigation chart of the harbour showing the newly dredging areas.
Read Chairman’s welcome speech [PDF format; 155Kb]
Quotes from Industry Perspectives –
Oil & Gas & Decommissioning – Mike Porter, Managing Director – Peterson SBS
“It’s a big ask for companies to go it on their own when you are dealing with such a challenge as the safe and effective decommissioning of the offshore infrastructure in the North Sea.
“The operators haven’t yet landed on how and when this should happen, yet they will need accessible facilities and competencies within the UK when they are. Doing it differently, working alongside local companies in a business like way is the reason why the Shetland Decommissioning concept has seen successful to date and I believe passionately that we should continue like that, bringing others onboard to further enhance our capability in Shetland.
“It’s tremendous to be part of a team that has created something unique, something special that has already been recognised by the industry following the award of a significant role in the Frigg Cessation Project in 2007. It went a long way to convincing the doubters amongst us that there was money to be made out there.”
Fishing – John Goodlad, Chairman – Shetland Catch
“Lerwick is one of Britain’s best natural harbours and this dredging project has hugely enhanced that natural advantage.
“Lerwick’s harbour facilities, together with Shetland’s geographical position between the Atlantic and the North Sea, affords enormous potential and opportunities for both the seafood and oil industries. Through this dredging project, LPA have demonstrated that they have the vision to realise this huge potential.”
Read Lerwick Port Authority news release dated 13 October 2009