Lerwick Port Authority is investing £85,000 (E102,817) in a new welcome ashore pavilion for meeting and greeting cruise passengers. It is due for completion in a couple of weeks’ time, says Sandra Laurenson, chief executive at the port.
In June MSC Cruises visited the port in Shetland, Scotland, for the first time with MSC Poesia. This year there are a total of 48 calls and 30,000 passengers visiting compared to 46 calls and 24,146 passengers in 2009.
Vessels calling for the first time this year include AIDAaura, Seabourn Sojourn, Oceania Cruises’ Regatta, Costa Luminosa, Princess Cruises’ Ocean Princess and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun.
The maximum size of vessel to visit to date is 231m in length and 9m depth. There are three berths: Holmsgarth No 5 with a maximum length of 205m and depth of 9.2m; Victoria Pier (east) 145m and 6.8m to 9.2m; Victoria Pier (west) 90m and 6m to 8.4m.
Free shuttle buses are provided for vessels berthed at Holmsgarth which is 1km from the town centre, the other two quays being adjacent.
Anchorage is also available. The distance to the landing stage is 0.4nm (inner) and 1.3nm (outer). The turning basin has a diameter of 630m and a depth of 10m.
The limiting factor for the numbers of passengers that can be handled at one time is the shore excursion capacity with about 3,000 being handled so far.
