Shetland’s ports have had a very reasonable year, according to John Smith, Executive Manager at Shetland Council’s Marine Services. "Undoubtedly our biggest earner is the Port of Sullom Voe. It is now moving off its peak period, but the second phase of BP’s Claire Ridge development has an estimated eight billion barrels of oil and is the largest undeveloped hydrocarbon resource on the UKCS," he notes.
Clare was discovered in 1977 but the challenging nature of the reservoir meant that first phase drilling only began in earnest in 2005. BP is targeting 640 million barrels from Clair Ridge, in a $4.5 billion project.
The next busiest port is Shetland’s Scalloway fishing port, which is second only to Peterhead as the UK’s busiest fishing port. "We have had a tremendous year in white fish landings, which are up by 50 per cent over the 2015 levels," Smith says.
The fish market is run in conjunction with Lerwick Port Authority. "We are working on a project now to renew, upgrade and enhance our fish market. The Scalloway council have approved the plans to modernise the fish hall. It will be at least a £3 million investment and will ensure that we have a modern, fit-for-purpose, efficient fish handling market here," he comments.
Scalloway also has some agriculture cargo going in and out, mainly to do with the local fish farming and mussel farming. "We have a number of interests between the various ports we operate. There are 17 in all, right down to local piers used for leisure sailing. Our role in the wider community is to ensure that we keep the port infrastructure, from the largest to the smallest, in good order," Smith notes.
The fisheries sector plus the ancillary industries on Shetland generates around £1 billion a year in jobs and revenues.
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