Another milestone in a year which will see Lerwick Port Authority invest around £30m in facility improvements was reached this week with the inauguration of a new vessel monitoring system (VMS).
Using the latest technology, the £450,000 upgrade will improve handling of the 10,000 annual vessel movements at the Shetland port.
The VMS, supplied by international maritime services company Transas, has been installed at port control in the authority’s main building in Lerwick.
It has thee remote stations, at Rova Head, north of the islands’ capital and Maryfield and Kirkabister, on the island of Bressay, monitoring the northern and southern approaches and inner harbour. Data is supplied to port control via fibre and microwave links.
The port authority’s deputy harbourmaster, Captain Alexander Simpson, said: “The VMS is already a great asset for port control in handling shipping movements and providing navigational assistance.
“It combines data from multiple sensors in very user-friendly vector chart operator display units, extends port control’s VHF radio range, displays weather information and linked cameras deliver CCTV coverage – all enhancing the efficiency and safety of operations.
“The investment in the VMS is just one of several projects expanding the port’s infrastructure at a time when we are welcoming larger vessels – for example, the biggest cruise ship yet at Lerwick arrived this week.”
The port authority’s investment programme this year includes a number of harbour expansion projects.
Last month the first phase of an £11.95m quay extension at the deep water Dales Voe base was completed. The development of the base, which has seen the quay extended 75m to 130m, is aimed at supporting a wide range of offshore industry projects, including decommissioning. It has already been used by a number of ships, including Subsea 7’s 146m offshore construction vessel, Seven Waves.
Earlier in the year the first 110-metre phase of a new £16.5m jetty serving the fishing and offshore industries at Holmsgarth North came into operation. The project is due to be completed in the autumn.
As part of a wider project to refurbish the authority’s office, in Albert Building, the port control room has been completely renovated, including a new server room.
Conversion of the building’s ground floor into a new reception area and and offices is underway and is due to be completed by the end of the year.
