Confidence in Shetland's future is reflected in the new strategy and business plan that's been published by the Lerwick Port Authority.
It's anticipated that 2013 will be a busy year, thanks to the four main industry sectors operating at the port – oil & gas, ferries and freight, fishing, and marine tourism from cruise ships and yachts.
The authority's Chair, Harry Jamieson, says that forecasts for the next three years are “very encouraging”. The business plan promises several significant projects, with a new deep-water quay for oil rig decommissioning, more deep-water berths elsewhere in the harbour and an expansion of the authority's extensive industrial estates. The prospect of onshore and offshore renewable energy is also being explored. Lerwick is a Trust Port, so all profits are reinvested in the harbour, with over £74 million having been invested in port assets since the 1960s.
The Plan can be viewed here. You can also find out what's happening in the harbour right now on the Lerwick Port Authority's excellent dashboard, which features weather and tidal information, live webcam views, current vessel locations and news of events. It's part of a completely revised website that was recently launched.