78 arrivals for the period
Whitefish totalled 6,800 boxes from seven Scottish trawl landings. The scots lads sailed on Boxing Day despite the poor forecast and fished along the shelf edge with monkfish and squid their target species. Whilst the squid fishing was good, monkfish were thin on the ground. The following trip as Storm Eowyn approached a couple of boats headed west to Rockall for cod, haddock and monkfish with reasonable returns for the hard earned efforts.
Shellfish was steady with thirty-nine landings from visiting prawn trawlers combining with the efforts of the local fleet who report good fishing.
Non-fishing saw twenty-seven arrivals; twenty-four from the aquaculture sector for fuel, crew changes and equipment. The new Calmac ferry Glen Sannox spent a week sailing round the ports undertaking sea trials and called into UL on the 4th January. The dual fuel ferry was a good fit for the car ramp but will have gangway restrictions with the higher tides. The research vessel FRV Scotia called in for a crew change and the MCA tug Ievoli Black made her monthly call for fuel, stores and crew.
The new cruise reception building is progressing very well with all trades working hard to complete in the coming weeks. Once finished the new warm and well-fitted space will have an open reception area and adjoining fully accessible toilets. The new building will make a huge difference to the passenger experience and with forty-five vessels in the arrivals in this year’s diary, carrying 31,000 passengers and 18,000 crew, 2025 is shaping up to be the busiest season yet.