Thursday 3rd March 2011

At the meeting of the Shetland Islands Council Economic Development Committee this morning the funding request for The NAFC Marine Centre for 2011-12 was unanimously approved.

Comments from members were all very positive indeed. Key areas that were highlighted were the level of applied support that The Centre gives to industry and that this is becoming ever more crucial as we move through the current economic downturn. The Committee also congratulated The Centre on its great work over the last 12 months and what it had achieved and appreciated the fact that The Centre, along with all public bodies, had made a significant financial saving in its proposed budget for next year.

The decision will need to be ratified by Full Council later in the month.

Thursday 17th March 2011

The end of the financial year has seen a flurry of activity here at The Marine Centre including the final stages towards completion of our new Aquaculture Research vessel and also an additional floor being added to our Engineering workshop.

The picture above shows our new Aquaculture Research Vessel being raised ready to be lowered into the water for its sea trials. This vessel has been built to our agreed specifications and will be highly flexible, allowing it to be used for a wide variety of research projects and activities. The vessel is to replace our current Fish Farm vessel, The Crest, which is now getting quite old and is no longer up to the tasks required. The new vessel will be officially named at a ceremony in Scalloway in April.

A second floor has been added to our Engineering workshop here at The Marine Centre to increase capacity and give some flexible working space to the teaching team. This has been much needed in recent years due to the increase in Engineering students on both our courses and through the Skills for Work programme with the local schools.