The opening of a £16.5m quay at Lerwick Harbour will boost the offshore and cruise sectors and benefit white fish and pelagic fishing businesses.
Mair's Pier, Lerwick Port Authority's Holmsgarth North Development project, will provide a further 800m of deep water berthing to benefit both fishing vessels and cruise liners, while a white fish market will operate alongside the pier, with construction planned to start this year.
Shetland MSP, Tavish Scott, who named the quay at an opening ceremony, said: “Mair's Pier is the latest major investment by a highly professional and go-ahead port. It will not be the last, and that approach to Shetland's future is why Lerwick will remain a top UK port.
“Today, fishing is the Islands’ most important industry. A new fish market providing state-of-the art facilities will complement the new pier.”
The project involved land reclamation, construction of an 804m deep-water L-shaped quay, and demolition of a smaller jetty. It also included creating a working area over 1.5 hectares for the fishing fleet and oil vessels. The outer arm creates a dock which will shelter the new market.
Mair's Quay, completed in August 2013, was the first step in a larger project for Lerwick Harbour.
Mair’s Pier is among Lerwick Harbour’s developments backed by the Bank of Scotland.
