Shetland Islands Broadcasting Company

The Helliar is free! This morning the tugs Corringham, Peterel and Saint David assisted the 231 metre heavy-lift vessel Ziang Tai Kou out into the Firth of Forth from the new deep-water berth at the entrance to Leith harbour, where it had been blocking the entrance to the sea lock. This allowed the Helliar to leave just before ten, heading for Aberdeen, and a return to service.

The Ziang Tai Kou had been at the new deep-water berth to discharge eight XXL monopiles for offshore wind turbines, before moving out into the Firth of Forth to allow the Helliar to leave, before returning alongside to continue discharging.

Shetland Arts has announced its annual Hogmanay celebration will be going ahead once again this year.

People in Shetland are being warned of scam messages pretending to come from Social Security Scotland, with some scams in connection with winter heating payments.

As the festive season approaches, jobcentres, including Lerwick, are encouraging people to consider seasonal employment.

The Shetland Islands Council is considering extending the nearly 100 year old Scord quarry by over 40 per cent to just under 17 hectares so that more rock and road stone can be excavated. [LDRS]

The environmental impact assessment of the Rosebank oil and gas field, 85 nautical miles west-north-west of Eshaness, has been published.