Shipping Study of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters

5. Consultation & data collection

5.1 Introduction

The following were contacted as part of the initial stakeholder consultation to help identify other data sources relevant to the project:

• Scrabster Harbour
• Wick Harbour
• OIC Marine Services
• Highland Council
• Clyde Cruising Club
• RYA (Scotland)
• Orkney Marinas Limited ( OML )
• Marine Scotland: Salmon & Recreational Fisheries Team
• Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers
• Aberdeen Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre ( MRCC )

Details of some of the additional data collected are summarised below. Varying recording methods were in place at the marinas, therefore there are differences in whether the figures present destination or country of origin. Data were available for a variety of different periods therefore, in the majority of cases, data were presented for 2010 and 2011.

5.2 Scrabster Harbour

Scrabster Harbour Trust provided information on vessels callings at the harbour for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 (to 31 August).

A graph of the monthly number of merchant and recreational vessels recorded for 2010 and 2011 is presented in Figure 5.1 included in this study as explained in Section 2, and are reported in the commercial fishing study referenced in Section 1.)

Figure 5.1 Number of Vessels Calling at Scrabster in 2010 and 2011 (exc. Fishing)

It can be seen that visiting vessels peaked in summer.

A breakdown of the types of vessels calling at Scrabster in 2010 and 2011 is presented in Figure 5.2

Figure 5.2 Vessel Type Distribution - Scrabster (2010-11)

Merchant vessels (cargo, offshore and tanker) represented approximately 80-85% of the visiting vessels with yachts representing 15-20%. The number of yachts dropped from 65 to 46 between 2010 and 2011. This may be related to port redevelopment work that was taking place during 2011.

Figure 5.3 presents the monthly number of yachts recorded in 2010 and 2011.

Figure 5.3 Number of Yachts Calling at Scrabster in 2010 and 2011

All yachts visited between March and October with the peak months being June, July and August.

Graphs of ship lengths and destinations for recreational vessels visiting Scrabster in 2010-11 are presented in Figure 5.4 and Figure 5.5.

Figure 5.4 Length of Yachts Calling at Scrabster (2010-11 combined)

Figure 5.5 Destinations of Yachts Calling at Scrabster (2010-11 combined)

Most vessels visiting Scrabster tended to be between 8m and 14m in length. Popular destinations were eastwards to Wick (via Pentland Firth), westwards to Kinlochbervie and northwards to Orkney (crossing the Pentland Firth).

Data received for the first half of 2012 showed similar trends to the analysis above. However, it is noted that the port redevelopment mentioned above, as well as affecting the numbers in 2011, could lead to additional numbers in future as new pontoons have been installed for recreational vessels.

5.3 Orkney Marinas

Orkney Marinas Limited ( OML ) operates all the marina berthing facilities in Orkney. The three marinas are situated within harbours under the jurisdiction of the Orkney Islands Harbour Authority. Facilities are summarised in Table 5.1.

Table 5.1 Orkney Marinas Facilities

Facilities	Kirkwall	Stromness	Westray
Berths	95	72	17
Depths (m)	1 to 2.7	2	1 to 3
Max Length (m)	20	20	20
Access	All states of tide	All states of tide	All states of tide

Details of vessels calling at Kirkwall, Stromness and Westray Marinas were obtained from Orkney Marinas for 2010 and 2011.

The total numbers of visitors to each marina in 2010 and 2011 are summarised in Figure 5.6. It can be seen that 2011 was approximately 10-15% busier than 2010.

Figure 5.6 Total Visitors to Orkney Marinas - 2010 and 2011

More detailed analysis of the data for each marina is presented below.

5.3.1 Kirkwall Marina

The monthly number of vessels visiting Kirkwall Marina in 2010 and 2011 is presented in Figure 5.7.

Figure 5.7 Number of Vessels Calling at Kirkwall Marina

There were a total of 545 vessels visiting Kirkwall Marina between 2010 and 2011, with most between May to August, peaking in June and July.

The length distribution of vessels visiting Kirkwall Marina in 2010 and 2011 is presented in Figure 5.8.

Figure 5.8 Length of Vessels visiting Kirkwall Marina (2010-11 combined)

The majority of vessels of visiting the marina were between 10-12m (39%) and 12-14m (32%). Larger vessels recorded between 20-22m were recorded 8 times visiting the marina.

An overview of the country of origin of the recorded vessels at Kirkwall during 2011 is presented in Figure 5.9. (Data were unavailable for 2010.)

Figure 5.9 Vessel Nationalities - Kirkwall (2011)

It can be seen that whilst the UK was the most common nationality (39%) the majority of visitors were international, including Norway (16%), Sweden (8%), Germany (7%), France (6%) and The Netherlands (5%).

5.3.2 Stromness Marina

The monthly numbers of recreational vessels visiting Stromness Marina in 2010 and 2011 are presented in Figure 5.10.

Figure 5.10 Number of Vessels Calling at Stromness in 2010 and 2011

As with Kirkwall, vessel visits were almost entirely in the spring and summer, with peaks in June and July, but there were two vessels recorded in February and one in November.

The length distribution of vessels visiting Stromness Marina is presented in Figure 5.11.

Figure 5.11 Length of Vessels visiting Stromness Marina (2010-11 combined)

The majority of vessels visiting Stromness Marina were in the range 10-12m (44%) and 12-14m (26%). There were no vessels over 20m. Overall, the lengths at Stromness tended to be smaller than at Kirkwall.

The country of origin for visitors to Stromness is presented in Figure 5.12.

Figure 5.12 Vessel Nationalities - Stromness (2011)

Just over two-thirds were from the UK (68%), followed by Sweden (6%), Germany (5%), and other countries.

5.3.3 Westray Marina

The results of the Westray Marina visitor analysis are presented below. The findings are broadly similar to the other Orkney marinas, although it is noted that Westray is more remote and therefore had less than half the number of visitors as Kirkwall and Stromness.

Figure 5.13 Number of Vessels Calling at Westray in 2010 and 2011

Figure 5.14 Length of vessels Visiting Westray Marina (2010-11 combined)

Figure 5.15 Vessel Nationalities - Westray (2011)

5.4 Wick Harbour

Summarised information on recreational visitors to the marina at Wick Harbour was obtained from the Harbour Master during the initial consultation task. This is summarised in Figure 5.16.

Figure 5.16 Annual Number of Recreational Vessels Calling at Wick (2006-2011)

It can be seen that there was a generally increasing trend in the total number of visiting recreational vessels from 2006 to 2010. The 2011 numbers are lower than the preceding two years, which the Harbour Master indicated was due to bad weather at the start and end of the season.

More detailed information on individual visitors was only available in paper form. As part of this project, a visit was made to Wick in early July 2012 to review the paper forms and create a spreadsheet of recreational visitors to allow more detailed analysis covering the period 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2012.

A graph of the monthly number of recreational vessels visiting Wick Marina in 2011 is presented in Figure 5.17.

Figure 5.17 Number of Recreational Vessels Calling at Wick in 2011

Recreational vessels were recorded as visiting Wick between April and October, with numbers peaking in June and July.

An overview of the nationality of the recreational vessels recorded in 2011 is shown in Figure 5.18.

Figure 5.18 Vessel Nationalities - Wick Marina 2011

Almost 60% of all visiting recreational vessels recorded were from UK, followed by The Netherlands (9%), Norway (8%), Germany (7%) and France (almost 5%), with the rest well under 5%.

Data collected for the first 6 months of 2012 showed a similar trend with the first recreational vessels visiting the marina in April. Similar trends began to appear for April, May and June with the number of yachts visiting increasing per month as seen in 2011.

Based on the combined data set, the main departure and destination ports for callers at Wick are presented in Figure 5.19.

Figure 5.19 Vessel Departure / Destination Ports - Wick Marina (Jan 2011 to Jun 2012)

5.5 Highland Council Harbours

The Highland Council operates recreational craft facilities on the west coast of Scotland, at Lochinver, Kinlochbervie and Kyle of Lochalsh. As part of this project, Anatec supplied the Council with forms for logging visitors. Data were collected between April and August 2012 (inclusive).

The monthly numbers of visitors is presented in Figure 5.20.

Figure 5.20 Numbers of Recreational Vessels visiting Highland Council Facilities

It can be seen there was a similar monthly trend for all the marinas, with June and July being the busiest months.

The length distribution of recreational vessels visiting each facility is presented in Figure 5.21.

Figure 5.21 Lengths of Vessels visiting Highland Council Facilities

The majority of vessels visiting Lochinver and Kyle of Lochalsh tended to be 8-12m. Vessels visiting Kinlochbervie tended to be slightly larger with the majority being 10-14m in length, however, this is based on only a subset of the visitors.

In terms of last or next port, these tended to be fairly localised, with less than 10% indicating a port within or beyond the PFOW Strategic Area. However, vessels heading for other ports, e.g., Kyle of Lochalsh to Stornoway, may have been en route to the area of interest.