Ongoing developments in six decades at Lerwick Harbour have created a leading energy centre, internationally-recognised, with state-of-the-art facilities, an extensive supply chain and a wealth of experience - adaptable and expandable to meet the changes and challenges of tomorrow’s world.
Since the early days of oil & gas industry operations in UK waters, the Shetland port has serviced an overlapping sequence of activities: seismic surveys; exploration drilling; field development; production and, increasingly now, subsea projects and decommissioning.
The deep-water port played a key role in supporting the installation of production platforms and pipelines in the East Shetland Basin in the 1970s onwards, infrastructure now being dismantled, with Lerwick in the front line.
The involvement has been repeated for industry operations west of Shetland.
Lerwick continues to play its part in providing back-up for onshore energy projects in the islands. The track record includes handling equipment for the Sullom Voe oil terminal in the 1970s, the later Shetland Gas Plant and, in the 2020s, the Viking windfarm.
As an energy centre, the comprehensive package which developed for the oil & gas sector is available and adaptable for new opportunities, expanding the port’s scope into renewables and decarbonisation initiatives.
It is ideally positioned for the marshalling, assembly and mobilisation of structures and equipment for the growing market in offshore windfarm construction, including floating installations.
Plans for an Ultra-Deep-Water Quay at Dales Voe will strengthen Lerwick as an energy centre with a facility unique in the UK and supporting decommissioning and renewables.
The Port Authority is also a partner in the ORION Project which aims to transform Shetland into a clean energy island powered by renewable resources onshore and offshore.
Shetland’s thriving supply chain can offer a range of support services, alongside an experienced and established fabricating and engineering workforce.
State-of-the art infrastructure includes:
- Strategic, competitive location near potential offshore developments
- All-weather port, with twin entrances and 24-hour operation
- 4,500+ metres of quays, including deep-water berths to 12.5m c.d.
- Three licensed quayside decommissioning areas (SEPA Approved)
- Unique heavy duty line loading quaysides
- Sheltered and unobstructed anchorages and moorings
- Existing 130,000 m² of quayside working areas, open storage and laydown, with major expansion potential
- Quayside waste management and drill cuttings recycling
- Bunkers and freshwater
- Adjacent modern landfill site
- Laydown areas, open storage and warehousing
- Environmental services
- Development potential for supply chain
Dales Voe
- Clear, unobstructed approaches to the site, over 30 metres’ water depth
- Sheltered location and anchorages
- Licensed decommissioning pad (SEPA approved), commissioned 2020, with impermeable surface and controlled discharge areas
- 130 metres of berthing, with depths up to 12.5 metres’ alongside
- 60t m² load bearing quayside
- 800 tonne per metre line loading on the quayside
- Adjacent laydown to 45,000 m²
- Quayside open storage
- Potential Ultra-Deep-Water Quay (in planning stages)
Greenhead Base
- Strengthened quays, with up to 9 metres’ water depth alongside
- 785 metres of berthing
- Two licensed decommissioning areas (SEPA approved)
- Pad includes impermeable surface and controlled discharge areas
- Separate heavy lift areas quayside
- Extensive open storage, laydown and warehousing
Offshore Energy UK (OEUK) is the leading non-for-profit representative body for the UK offshore energy industries, with the aim of ensuring that the UK continental shelf remains an attractive place for energy producers so their supply chains to do business.
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The ORION Clean Energy Project, established to provide Shetland with clean, affordable energy by developing the potential for renewables generation.
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