Lerwick smashes previous records prior to new jetty completion



Thursday, April 28, 2016 - 11:43 by ce-press

The completion of the new Holmsgarth North Jetty in Lerwick this autumn will provide further berthing facilities for cruiseships from 2017 onwards.

Looking ahead, Victor Sandison, senior commercial executive Lerwick Port Authority, said: “The outlook is very positive for next season, with 54 ships already booked, promising record tonnage and over 52,000 passengers, with more to come. This early, there are also 13 bookings for 2018.”

Meanwhile, this year’s cruise season began in Lerwick on April 24 with a call from Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ (CMV) Astoria. This year there will be more passengers, more calls, the highest gross tonnage and the largest vessels to date visiting the Shetland port.

Almost 54,000 passengers are expected on 78 calls. The former is up on the 2014 record of 43,273 and the latter beats the high of 52 in 2012. The cumulative gross tonnage at 2,212,023 tops the 1,684,699 set in 2014.

When it comes to size the 2011 record of 114,288gt (Costa Pacifica) will be broken twice, by P&O Cruises’ 115,055gt Azura on June 30 and by Celebrity Cruises’ 122,210gt Celebrity Silhouette on August 14, with around 3,100 and 2,900 passenger capacity respectively.

Sandison said: “The prospect of a complete set of new port records makes it a particularly exciting season, highlighting Lerwick’s contribution to the growing Scottish cruise industry and to the Shetland economy.”

CMV’s Marco Polo will close the season on October 6. June and July will be the busiest months, with 18 and 23 calls respectively. Ten maiden calls will include the first ever from Viking Ocean Cruises with Viking Sea and Viking Star and also Celebrity Silhouette.

The port’s Meet & Greet programme which welcomes and assists arriving passengers and crew includes an arrangement with Hjaltibonhoga, the Shetland Fiddlers of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for the second year running.
Lerwick smashes previous records prior to new jetty completion
Passengers at Lerwick's Victoria pier (c) John Coutts





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