Strong return to normal activity
Lerwick Harbour handled record levels of activity across several areas of operation in 2023 as it emerged strongly from the downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and is looking forward to significant new opportunities in 2024.
The latest activity report confirms that Shetland’s principal port was used by 161,713 passengers on the ferries to-and-from Kirkwall and Aberdeen, up 39% compared to 2022, while cruise vessels brought 123,903 visitors, up from 58,540 – both new records for the highest overall figure yet at 285,616, 63% up on the previous year.
Lerwick Port Authority’s pilots also set a record for the tonnage of ships piloted at 15,430,213 gross tonnes, up 33% on 2022, with the 1,023 pilotage movements, an increase of 29%.
There were 5,002 vessel arrivals during the year, up 5%, with the tonnage increasing by 18% to 14,564,455 gross tonnes. The total included a record 129 cruise ships.
An upturn in offshore industry traffic at the deep-water port saw a 12% rise in all oil-related shipping, including a 29% jump in oil-related supply and anchor-handling vessels, although overall tonnage dropped 23% in comparison to 2022 when the Ninian Northern field platform jacket arrived for decommissioning. Oil-related cargo was up 34% to 54,743 tonnes.
Cargo for the twelve months to end December at 877,197 tonnes was down 1% on the previous period, reflecting a 5% decrease in roll-on/roll-off shipments, largely attributable to comparison against the 2022 figure which included materials for the onshore Viking Energy windfarm.
Although there was a 2% drop in fishing vessel arrivals, there was a 14% increase to 232,701 in the number of whitefish boxes landed as skippers took advantage of strong prices.
Captain Calum Grains, Port Authority Chief Executive, said: “There was a welcome recovery to normal operations in 2023, post-covid, with a strong performance across the sectors and an outstanding contribution by all involved in our increasingly important marine tourism activities.
“We can now plan the future with renewed confidence, with the recently completed reclamation at Arlanda available for future pelagic sector improvements, another potential record-breaking cruise season, start of the support for the Rosebank field development in the spring, progressing plans for our unique Ultra-Deep-Water Quay and strengthening our relationship with windfarm operators.“
