Following the recent closures of Aberdeen harbour, the port's entrance is being dredged early to remove an accumulation of silt.

Describing the recent period of bad weather as "the worst in my 28 years at the port", Aberdeen Harbour's general manager said that the silt in the main navigation channel would be removed in case of a further build-up over the winter.

He added that the work, which is normally carried out in spring, would not disrupt vessel movement.

Eight sperm whales spotted of Holm

Eight sperm whales were spotted off Holm on Thursday, swimming in the waters between East Holm and Burray.

SSPCA Inspector Mike Lynch said that the whales were clearly visible from the Hurtiso area and he hoped that they would swim out to sea of their own accord.

"If they came ashore there would be nothing we could do with them, they are too big," he said.

Pentland Ferries' Invergordon service folds

Pentland Ferries are discontinuing their St Margaret's Hope freight service less than three weeks after its launch.

The company are blaming the lack of trade on the St Margaret's Hope to Invergordon route for the service's demise.

After the last sailing at 4pm on Friday, the MV Claymore will be laid up in St Margaret's Hope.

Cash for Kirkwall, but Stromness travel centre funding bid rejected

A £495,000 funding bid for the new Stromness travel centre has been rejected.

The Stromness centre, to be built at the current ferry terminal, failed to attract Scottish Executive funding, while a bid for cash for Kirkwall's £1.25 million centre was successful - although no site has yet been chosen.

Councillors at Tuesday's meeting of the OIC policy and resources meeting called for a report on alternative funding options for Stromness.

Another two Orkney wines hit the shelves

Two new Orkney wines were launched at the weekend.

The Orkney Wine Company's latest creations are 18 Carrot and Ba'nana.

Weighing in at 19.3 per cent proof and 17.6 per cent, both wines are stronger than normal table wines.

Picky expansion investigated in light of cash grant news

Orkney Islands Council are to look into the possibility of expanding or enhancing the Pickaquoy Centre – with anything from a swimming pool to proper floodlighting.

After hearing of a chance of a share in the final round of Millennium Commission grants, policy and resources committee members agreed to allow a team, including the convener and vice convener and officials, to discuss the best way to progress the matter.

Applications for grants have to be submitted by February 24, 2003.

Driver uninjured after Rendall crash

A female driver escaped uninjured despite her car ending up on its roof in a ditch on Tuesday afternoon.

Fire engines, police and ambulance attended after the Vauxhall Vectra crashed on the Gorseness Road in Rendall at around 3.45pm.

Kirkwall Marina breakwater out to tender

The creation of a marina breakwater for Kirkwall Harbour has taken another step forward with the job now out to tender.

This follows on from the construction work on the Stromness breakwater currently being carried out by local construction firm Currie Brothers Ltd.

Tenders for the Kirkwall project are due back before Christmas, with a starting date planned for January, 2003.

Orkney project shares £150,000 innovation prize

A project from Orkney College's Agronomy Institute is one of three winners in a major business research competition.

The institute will now share the £150,000 prize from the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Research Challenge Fund.

Voters agree on motion that Orkney transport is disintegrated

Speaking for the motion, Scottish Socialist Party candidate, John Aberdein, was critical of NorthLink's service, in particular the way livestock had not been included in the original tender.

Speaking against was Councillor Stephen Hagan, who suggested transport in Orkney had never been more integrated.

Lesley Riddoch, live from Kirkwall

BBC Radio Scotland were broadcasting live from Kirkwall on Tuesday afternoon.

The current affairs programme, hosted by Lesley Riddoch, went live from Kirkwall's Town Hall between 12 noon and 2pm.

Among the local issues covered were ferry transport, the dental crisis and safety on the second Churchill barrier.

BAFTA award for Stromness-man Julyan

Stromness man Julyan Sinclair - better known locally as Julyan Stout - was one of four Scottish TV (STV) presenters who collected awards at the BAFTA New Talent awards in Glasgow on Sunday.

Julyan picked up the Best Television Presenter award for his work on the STV programmes Scottish Action, Scotland Today and The Point.

Police repeat security plea after another car theft

Police are once again urging car owners to keep vehicles secure after another car was stolen in Stromness last week.

The Citroen car was taken from Hillside Road after being left unlocked with the keys in the ignition. The vehicle was found undamaged on Friday morning.

This is the latest in a series of police appeals regarding car security.

Education "Oscar" for Orkney College

The Highlands & Islands Enterprise Award for Innovation is in recognition of Orkney College's development of new modern apprenticeships.

Kiln Corner time capsule buried

The stainless-steel capsule was buried at 10.30am in a ceremony marking the completion of the Kiln Corner complex of homes and offices.

Inside was a selection of items - including a candid account of her life to date provided by resident Anne Stevenson.

Adverts abroad in "desperate" bid to attract dentists

Adverts have been placed in magazines abroad - in a "desperate" bid to recruit more dentists to Orkney.

Chief dental officer Moya Nelson explained: "It is not common practice to advertise abroad, but it's because we are desperate. We are advertising in Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand."

Orkney's continuing dental crisis was made worse recently with the mass de-registering of around 7,000 patients from the now-private Scapa Dental Centre.

German date for Kirkwall pigeon fancier

Pigeon fancier, Christie “Boyo” Norquoy from Kirkwall, is off to Germany at the weekend to attend the European Pigeon Show in Dortmund.

Mr Norquoy hopes to acquire new brood stock from among the 24,000 pigeons on display.

Emergency landing for passenger flight

Wick Airport was the scene of a full-scale emergency on Friday after an engine had to be shut down on a passenger flight from Kirkwall en route to Edinburgh.

The starboard engine on the Saab aircraft was shut down shortly after take-off from Kirkwall Airport around 2.30pm on Friday. The flight landed safely at Wick Airport just after 3pm.

The 17 passengers were re-routed via Inverness and Aberdeen and engineers flown to Wick to investigate.