SCRABSTER harbour in Caithness had seen oil and gas related traffic reach record levels amid continued high activity levels off Shetland.

The trust that operates the harbour said 19 vessels that were working for oil and gas companies used the port in July. The total tonnage of oil and gas vessels more than doubled to 123,130 tonnes.

The vessels included the giant Island Constructor, which supports work on subsea wells.

The boat is working for BP, which is developing the giant Clair Ridge field West of Shetland and revamping the Schiehalion field in the area. Work on these was advanced before the crude price plunged.

The trust manager Sandy Mackie said: “As the closest mainland port for oil and gas activity off the west of Shetland, and many installations in the northern North Sea, we offer huge benefits.”

The harbour grew sales by 16 per cent annually in the year to March, to a record £2.8 million, helped by a surge in oil and gas related business.