Council approves infrastructure improvements to help Sullom Voe gas plant construction
Rosalind GriffithsPlanning permission for improving infrastructure at Sullom Voe ahead of the construction of the Laggan-Tormore gas processing plant was granted by SIC planning board today.
The work is required due to a planning condition applied to the project which states materials, equipment and plant needed for construction should be brought to the site by sea, landed close to the site and transported for the rest of the distance by road.
The existing ro-ro slipway to the east of the tanker jetties will have a 15 metre-wide extension to allow for the landing from vessels of items needed for the construction of the plant. The slipway will be widened by installation of steel piles and backfilling the extension with concrete.
In addition an area of hardstanding connected to the slipway will be extended to store items off-loaded at the slipway.
The final part of the development involves widening the terminal access road by seven metres between the lay-down area and the public road south-east of the so-called Rangatira car park, which was built in the days of the accommodation liners. New coastal protection will be carried out where required.
There will also be new car parking to cope with the influx of vehicles. The Rangatira car park will be extended to provide 100 spaces and the hardstanding area to be built beside the slipway could be used for parking in the road-widening period, which is due to start in March and be finished by September. While this is taking place roadside parking will not be allowed and traffic will probably be restricted to a single lane.
During a two-year period, from March 2012 to March 2014, when the construction of the gas plant is scheduled, there will be intermittent roadside parking and a park and ride service is likely to operate from Sella Ness to the terminal.
Colin Hunter
Neither Rangatira or Stena Baltica were “Liners”. They were RO-RO ferries, similar to, but MUCH Better than the Northlink vessels which serve the islands today. Shame we couldn’t have a boat like Rangatira on the North run now. I was on her fo 6 Months when she was in Stanley. Knocked Northlink into a cocked hat and she was built in 1967!
Isabelle Devereux (née Halcrow)
I remember the the “Rangatira” – I grew up in Wellington, New Zealand and had a great view of the beautiful Wellington harbour from my bedroom window. There is a very interesting and complete history of the Rangatira at http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/r4.htm