Major harbour upgrade in final weeks
The substantial dredging operation at Lerwick Harbour has moved into its concluding weeks, the Lerwick Port Authority has confirmed, with contractors authorised to operate continuously as they work towards completion early in September.
The project, which entered its final phase in June 2026, is designed to deepen and widen the North Ness Channel and to improve access to key berths including Mair’s Pier, Gremista Quay and Dales Voe. The port authority says the heightened depths will better accommodate larger vessels from the fishing, cruise and energy sectors, and strengthen the port’s capacity for future growth.
Specialist fleet undertaking works
A number of specialist vessels from Boskalis Westminster are engaged in the work. Those named as operating in the scheme include the drill barge Rock Mate, backhoe dredgers Manu Pekka and Odin, hopper barges George and Hans, and support craft such as Jenny D and Shetland Trader. Material removed from the seabed is being transported to a designated offshore disposal site.
- Final phase began in June 2026 and is scheduled to conclude by early September.
- Works carried out in staged phases to ensure safe navigation and meet environmental requirements.
- Vessels have the flexibility to work at any hour, though most activity occurs in the morning and early evening.
Local disruption and community concerns
Although the port authority has said dredging vessels have flexibility to operate around the clock, in practice most operations have taken place during the morning and early evening. Nonetheless, some residents in the Staney Hill area have reported being woken early by noise and vibrations linked to the activity. These complaints follow broader concerns previously raised over dust and disruption from major infrastructure projects in the same area.
Residents in Staney Hill have occasionally reported being woken early by noise and vibrations from the dredging activity.
Such local impacts underline the balance the authority and contractors must strike between delivering a strategic infrastructure upgrade and maintaining quality of life for nearby communities. The project is being carried out in carefully controlled stages, the port authority has said, to ensure navigational safety and environmental compliance.
Economic and operational implications
When complete, the dredging will increase water depths across several berths, which the port authority expects will enhance Lerwick’s ability to accommodate larger fishing vessels, cruise ships and energy-sector craft. Deeper and wider channels can reduce transit constraints and potentially attract more diverse maritime traffic to the port — a key consideration for operators and businesses in Shetland that rely on reliable harbour access.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary aim | Deepen and widen North Ness Channel; improve access to Mair’s Pier, Gremista Quay, Dales Voe |
| Principal contractor | Boskalis Westminster (specialist vessels listed) |
| Disposal | Material taken to an offshore disposal site |
| Local concerns | Noise, vibrations and prior issues with dust and disruption in Staney Hill |
For Lerwick, the dredging programme represents one of the most significant harbour upgrades in recent years. The coming weeks will be important for ensuring the works finish to schedule while limiting disruption for residents, and for monitoring how the deeper channels translate into operational benefits for fishing, tourism and energy users of the port.
Further updates are expected from the Lerwick Port Authority as the contractors progress through the final stages of the programme.
