Lerwick harbour’s latest facilities for cruise ships welcomed their first vessel yesterday when the Viking Star berthed at the recently-named Mair’s Pier.
The liner arrived from Svolvaer, northern Norway, with around 900 passengers on board and tied up at the £16.5 million multi-purpose pier, which was completed in late 2016.
The pier is Lerwick Port Authority’s (LPA) largest single investment to date and initially its outside arm is being used by cruise ships of up to approximately 755ft in length. A number of Viking Cruise ships are among vessels scheduled to berth at the pier this season.
Passengers from the Viking Star were the first to use a new meet-and-greet station and information point, commissioned by LPA and accommodating the harbour’s welcoming team. The mobile unit will also be used elsewhere in the port which expects 75 vessels and a 21% increase in passengers to a record of almost 62,000 this season.
Victor Sandison, LPA’s senior commercial executive, said: “The additional berthing and improved visitor arrival experience are part of our ongoing programme to attract and service the cruise industry which makes an important contribution to the Shetland economy.”
Almost 90 vessels are already booked for 2018, bringing around 93,000 passengers, with both figures new set to be new records for the port.
