Lerwick (Mainland Shetland, Scotland)

Lerwick is a major port (Shetland's primary seaport) and the capital city of Scotland's Shetland Islands, with population around 7,000. It is located on Mainland Shetland and is the UK's northernmost.

Lerwick Port (locode GBLER) is approx 210 mi (340 km) northeast of Aberdeen, approx 220 mi (357 km) west of Bergen Norway, approx 230 mi (367 km) southeast of Torshavn Faroes.

Lerwick's current economy is based on its seaport - serving mainly commercial fishing vessels and ferries. Lerwick Harbour also provides services to vessels supporting UK's offshore oil industry. The city is served by two airports (Tingwall and Sumburgh) with domestic flights only. The company NorthLink Ferries (car-passenger ferry services between Orkney-Shetland and mainland Scotland) operates a daily overnight crossing between Lerwick and Aberdeen that also visits Kirkwall Orkney.

The first-ever cruise vessel that docked at Lerwick Harbour's new GBP 16,5 million cruise pier (Holmsgarth North jetty) was the Viking OCEAN's Viking Star (max capacity 930 passengers) on June 12, 2017. Lerwick Port Authority announced a record-breaking 2017 cruising season with a total of 76 scheduled ship calls and ~62,000 passengers (increase 22% over 2016). Due to the new pier, the overall vessel GT/gross tonnage increased by over 18% (to nearly 2,6 million tons).

During season 2018, the cruise port handled 91 ship calls and 90,336 passengers (78% increase over 2017). Of the 91 calls, 11 were maiden port visits, including port's ever-largest liner MSC Meraviglia (length 315 m, max capacity 5390 passengers plus 1400 crew).

For 2019 were booked 115 ship calls (later reduced to 99, including 12 first-time). This was 23% increase (over 2018) with expected 92,000 passengers (83,000 in 2018). Cruise port's berth bookings for 2020 showed 105 ship calls, estimated 92,000 tourists and 4+ million GT-tonnes of cruise shipping. Among the 13 maiden calls were two newbuilds - Le Bellot (Ponant) and Spirit of Adventure (Saga).

In 2023, the cruise port handled ~124,000 tourists, 129 ship calls (of which 19 maiden ship visits) and 2 new companies/brands - Swan Hellenic and MSC Explora Journeys.

In 2024, Lerwick Port Authority reported a record year with 134 handled cruise ships (out of 149 booked berthings) and 138,537 passengers. The Port's largest passenger ship so far is MSC Virtuosa (~182000 GT-tons).

Founded as a fishing village and with strong Viking connections, today little remains of the old Lerwick. Gray buildings (from the 17th-century) line downtown streets. Shetland Museum houses a unique collection of Pict and Viking artifacts. Other best-known tourist attractions include Town Hall, Fort Charlotte (5-sided artillery fort), Shetland Croft Museum.

On Shetland Mainland Island's southern tip is the prehistoric archaeological site Jarlshof, with ruins that date back from 2500 BC to 17th century AD (the Norse Settlement). Clichimin Broch is a Pictish fort (from 100 BC) set on a small island in Clichimin Loch (lake). Up-Helly-Aa is an annual Norse fire festival (held in January).

Lerwick cruise terminal