Shetland Islands Broadcasting Company

The arrival in Dales Voe at eight o’clock this morning of Allseas 382 metre twin-hulled heavy-lift vessel Pioneering Spirit, with the topsides of the North Cormorant platform, is a result of the Pioneering Spirit cutting through the legs of the North Cormorant, 60 nautical miles north-east of Unst, ahead of schedule at about 8 o’clock yesterday evening.

In Dales Voe, the Pioneering Spirit will transfer the North Cormorant topsides to Allseas 177 metre barge Iron Lady, with the barge and its cargo of the topsides brought by the tugs to the laydown area of the Dales Voe Base. The topsides will be assisted on to the laydown area by Allseas Dutch and Italian shoreside team.

A coastguard helicopter based at Sumburgh was tasked yesterday to go to an offshore support vessel in the Rosebank field 85 nautical miles west-north-west of Unst. A crewman on the vessel was in need of medical attention.

An air and sea search was underway yesterday for a male passenger reported overboard from Ambassador Cruise Line’s 216 metre Ambition, which was berthed at Mairs’s East in Lerwick harbour on Wednesday before sailing for Dundee. The body was recovered.

A study by the James Hutton Institute, Scotland's research institute for sustainable land crop and natural resource management, has found that a better coordination, and a better use, of fish by-products could increase the value of the Scottish seafood chain. In Shetland most seafood by-products are sent to the Hogan factory, where they are turned into fish meal and fish oil.

With a return rate of 56 per cent, over 81 per cent voted in favour of continuing with the Lerwick Businss Distruct Scheme.

Meanwhile Realta Events Management, which has held the contract for Living Lerwick since January 2018, is stepping down.