LINERS GALORE!

In a busy few days for Lerwick Harbour the town has been visited by three cruise ships.

Monday saw the arrival (if an hour late) of Holland America's Prinsendam which arrived from Reykjavik. On her last two visits she has been able to berth alongside, however this time the anchor was dropped in Bressay Sound.

She later sailed at 5pm bound for Rosyth (for Edinburgh).

Today saw the very brief call by Hapag Lloyd's c.Columbus which tied up at Holmsgarth just before 9am from Hamburg. After only 3 hours in port she sailed for Iceland.

Also in today is the fantastic Kristina Regina on her second visit of the season so far. A previous call earlier on was postponed due to engine problems. She is due to depart for Kirkwall in Orkney at 23.30BST.

Friday's visitor due is the Silver Cloud.

Ships in Lerwick Harbour, 5th August 2008

NORTIC (AT ANCHOR)
SIEM DANIS
BLIZZARD
LONG SAND
CORK SAND
GERDA SAELE
D.S.V ADAMS NOMAD
ANTARES
ZEPHYR
ANTARCTIC
GRAMPIAN OTTER
HJALTLAND
RESEARCH
c. COLUMBUS
FILLA
KRISTINA REGINA
HANNE KNUTSEN
ELISABETH KNUTSEN

Ships in Lerwick Harbour, 4th August 2008

NORMAND PROGRESS
GRAMPIAN OTTER
ACERGY PETREL
PRINSENDAM
NORTIC (AT ANCHOR)
SIEM DANIS
VIKING DISCOVERY
LONG SAND
CORK SAND
D.S.V ADAMS NOMAD
ANTARES
ZEPHYR
ANTARCTIC
HROSSEY
CLARE
HANNE KNUTSEN (AT ANCHOR)
ELISABETH KNUTSEN (AT ANCHOR)

Ships in Lerwick Harbour, 1st August 2008

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDEAVOUR
SIEM DANIS
NORTIC (AT ANCHOR)
BLIZZARD
LONG SAND
CORK SAND
GERDA SAELE
ISLAND SENIOR
ANTARES
ZEPHYR
ANTARCTIC
BORDER HEATHER
HJALTLAND
HASCOSAY
HIRTA
JURA
HANNE KNUTSEN (AT ANCHOR)

MOUSA RECORD?

The island of Mousa on the east side of Shetland is famous for its iron age Broch, believed to be the best preserved example in Europe. The island is seperated from mainland Shetland by a narrow sound.

It is a regular call for some of the smaller expedition cruise ships such as National Geographic Endeavour, Clipper Adventurer, and Polar Pioneer. However recently while on passage from Lerwick to Reykjavik Phoenix's Albatros navigated the sound and became the largest vessel ever to transit.

A sound not now used by even the local NorthLink service from Aberdeen, it is somewhat of a remarkable decision to take a 28,000grt liner inside.

P&O the previous incumbents of the lifeline ferry service regularly used the route with their ships St Clair, and St Sunniva, however a ship of the Albatros's size is regarded as a record breaker.

VISIT TO FAIR ISLE

Recently Orkney ferries ro-ro ship Varagen became the largest vessel ever believed to have berthed alongside at North Haven, Fair Isle whilst on a day cruise from Kirkwall.

After leaving there at 9am she took just over 4 hours to make the crossing in what her master described as "moderate seas". While undertaking berthing in the extremely confined harbour minor contact was made with a visiting yacht tied up, and also with the bottom of the harbour.

However the sucess of the visit has prompted Orkney ferries to consider making this an annual event.

It was the first time a day excursion from the company had visted since 1986.

SVARTFOSS

The refridgerated cargo vessel Svartfoss viewed paying a brief visit to Lerwick, 31st July 2008.

IMO number :9323089
Name of ship :SVARTFOSS
Call Sign :V2PR3
Gross tonnage :2990
Type of ship :Refrigerated Cargo Ship
Year of build :2005
Flag :Antigua and Barbuda