Lerwick is a major commercial port in Britain, strategically situated at the crossroads of the North Sea and North-East Atlantic. Handling more than 5,000 vessel arrivals, totalling over 12,000,000 gross tonnes, annually, the deep-water port’s users include fishing, oil and gas support, cargo, sailing, ferries and cruises.
The new VMS will be based on the high-end Navi-Harbour software solution from Transas. Hardware equipment scope consists of Class A AIS Transponders, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine Vision Master radars, a Jotron VHF Communication System, Gill Meteorological sensors, general IT hardware platform and an APC Power Backup System. This will be installed across four sites covering the port’s area: the main port operations building and three remote stations (Rova Head, Maryfield and Kirkabister, monitoring the northern approaches, inner harbour and southern approaches, respectively).
As part of the project, Port Control, located in Albert Building, will be fully renovated and Transas will closely collaborate with the Authority to design a new layout for the service within this building. Transas has contracted local support from H Williamson & Sons for installation and ongoing maintenance.
As part of its comprehensive customer support program, Transas will provide the client with Operator Training Course and Maintenance Service Plan.
The Port Authority’s Deputy Harbourmaster, Captain Alexander Simpson, said: “The new system will modernise Lerwick Harbour’s monitoring system, improving real-time information available to the Controllers handling shipping movements and the navigational assistance provided by Port Control. The investment is another important step in our ongoing development programme which is adding to the port’s capacity and competitiveness.”
The project, costing around £450,000, including the Transas contract, telecommunications and civil works, is scheduled to be fully completed and delivered by May 2016.