Friday, October 3, 2014 - 16:40 by ce-press
The busiest season yet ended in Lerwick with the arrival of 91,740gt Norwegian Star from Bergen on September 25.
Passenger numbers reached a new high at 43,056, topping the previous record of 37,572 in 2012, with the vessel tonnage figure of 1,682,985gt exceeding the record of 1,531,097gt two years ago.
Victor Sandison, Lerwick Port Authority deputy chief executive, said: "The record figures for vessel tonnages and passengers are all the more pleasing as the weather-related cancellations prevented us achieving the record-equalling number of 52 cruise ship arrivals.”
The start of the season was delayed by bad weather and poor conditions in August forced three vessels to cancel planned calls.
The season included nine maiden calls and a return by Costa Pacifica – her fifth visit – at 114,288 gross tonnes, the largest cruise ship yet at the port. For next year 46 calls are booked so far and for 2016 eleven.
Lerwick’s location at 60 degrees north and between the Atlantic and North Sea means it is included in itineraries for cruises in northern European waters and round-Britain, special interest voyages and repositioning to the USA.
