1981
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
- Morrison Dock is opened, providing improved berthing for fishing vessels and an enclosed area for net storage and repair.
- The population of Shetland was 22,766, an increase of 5,414 since 1971. This increase was almost entirely due to the coming of oil.
April
- 5th
UK census took place.
May
- 3rd
The British wooden fishing vessel Day Dawn sank approx 0.7 miles NE of Helli Ness, Cunningsburgh.
- 16th
Inauguration ceremony for Sullom Voe Oil Terminal, attended by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. Minutes before the royal pair were due to formally open the terminal, a bomb exploded from high up in the terminal's main power station. No-one was injured in the blast but debris was spread over the congested area. The IRA claimed responsibility for the explosion.
August
- 15th, 16th, 17th
Bahá'í "Hand of the Cause" (i.e. major leader) Rúhíyyih Khánum visited the Shetland Islands, was received by the council leader, and interviewed on Radio Shetland. On the 17th, a day long meeting of Shetland Bahá'ís occurred.
