Lerwick Port Authority

"Lerwick has already established itself as one of the main deep-water harbours in the Northern North Sea, with extensive experience in the offshore oil and gas and decommissioning sectors. I was pleased to meet with Lerwick Port Authority and the AF Group representatives to discuss their ambitious plans and delighted to be able to confirm that we are making up to £10 million available for their ambitious deep-water quay project." Sandra Laurenson, Chief Executive of Lerwick Port Authority said: "Today's announcement is very welcome and we are delighted that the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise recognise the importance of offshore decommissioning to Shetland and are supporting it in this way. "The project to create a deep-water site for the UK offshore sector will bring benefits to the area through employment and the wider supply chain. The planned significant investment in new port infrastructure allows us to look forward to the next phase of Lerwick's capability in meeting the needs of the oil and gas industry for many years to come. Lerwick Port Authority values the engagement with our partners in developing the project to this stage and the funding now secured provides a fantastic platform to ensure its delivery." Pal Egil Rønn, Chief Executive, of AF Group said:: "The AF Group is pleased with the support and co-operation from the Scottish Government and HIE in our company's long-range and major investment plans up at Shetland. AF wish to bring our experience from development and operations of similar business in Norway, to develop a unique site when it comes to operational and environmental standard for the UK market." Calum Davidson, Director of Energy and Low Carbon, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: "HIE has been working with Lerwick Port Authority and the industry for some years now to ensure we are ready to capture emerging opportunities in oil and gas decommissioning. Today's announcement is a major step forward which will build on Shetland's strong track record in major decommissioning projects. "Decommissioning is an important and growing part of the international oil and gas industry which could bring significant economic benefits to Scotland for decades to come. Geographically, Shetland is a key strategic location for this project, and we have the infrastructure, the skills and the experience to make it happen. HIE looks forward to working with our partners in government and other organisations to drive this major project forward."