Bosses at Lerwick harbour said yesterday a slide in activity levels in the first nine months of 2015 had come as no surprise following several highly busy years.
Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) put the decline down to a combination of poor weather, lower fish landings and the offshore industry malaise.
The harbour manager said there was still much to be positive about despite the dip, with a record breaking cruise season and the completion of major expansion projects on the cards for 2016.
A total of 142,594 passengers used the Shetland port from January to September, down 8% year-on-year.
The biggest hit came from the cruise sector, where passenger numbers fell 30% to 30,043, partly as a result of cancellations brought on by bad weather. Ferry passenger numbers rose 0.7% to 112,164.
The harbour managed to maintain growth in traffic numbers, with total vessel arrivals up 24 to 3,874.
However, tonnage was down 4% at 9.2million gross tonnes, a reflection of the drop-off in energy sector operations and cruise-liner visits.
The amount of cargo handled at the port was down 11% at 811,018 tonnes, including a 12% drop in offshore shipments.
Total fish landings slid 20% in volume to 37,095 tonnes, and 39% in value to £27.1million.
LPA chief executive Sandra Laurenson, said: “We knew that the peak activity levels we enjoyed in recent years would not continue and our forecasts for the year to date are on target to match our predictions for 2015.
Mr Laurenson said 70 vessels cruise ships and more than 50,000 passengers were booked in for 2016, and that upgrades to the port would strengthen its position as a key location for fishing and offshore energy clients.
Nearly £12million is being spent on expanding the quay at Dales Voe South – due for completion in April 2016 – and a further £16million-plus on a new jetty at Holmsgarth North, which is expected to be ready for use a year from now.