Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) confirmed yesterday it had restarted the tendering process for the construction of a replacement white fish market.
The decision to re-tender was made following the conclusion of an earlier procurement process which was challenged by one of the bidders.
LPA said re-inviting tenders was “the most efficient and fairest way” to procure the contract.
It added: “The re-tender exercise means that on-site work is likely to be delayed from the fourth quarter of 2017 to March next year.
“However, some time may be regained, with work carried out over two summers and a winter, rather than two winters and a summer, and completion is anticipated in the final quarter of 2019.”
The port authority said it would not provide further comment until the re-tendering process is completed and the contract awarded.
Preparations for a replacement fish market, costing an estimated £6million, got under way earlier this year.
The new facility is expected to double capacity at the UK’s second largest landings port.
LPA has previously described it as a “milestone project” as part of the harbour’s wider redevelopment.
Shetland had its best year for fish landings in almost 30 years in 2016, with more than 357,000 boxes brought ashore between the markets in Lerwick and Scalloway. Fish and shellfish worth an average of £1million a day were landed locally.