Port of Cromarty Firth excited at role in major construction projects after taking delivery of millions of tonnes of infrastructure
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MILLIONS of tonnes of infrastructure have been delivered to the Port of Cromarty Firth for use in five massive construction projects – including two brand new developments.
The port's involvement in the projects is worth £41 million to it.
The new developments are at Lochaline Harbour and at Dalcross, near Inverness Airport, where a 130-bedroom Courtyard by Marriott hotel will be built.
Piles have been transported to the Cromarty Firth where they are being housed for use at Lochaline Harbour, while accommodation modules are being stored at the port to be moved across to the hotel site, being developed by Molo Hotels, as needed.
Meanwhile tonnes of material for three existing projects have arrived at the Port including piles transported as part of its own record £31 million quayside expansion. They will be installed this week to form the new 218m quayside – a move that it claims will generate more than 140 new jobs across the Highlands and islands.
The quayside, plus 11 acres of laydown area which will become its new Energy and Cruise Hub, is due for completion in the spring of 2020.
Piles are also being housed for the Moray East Offshore Windfarm, as part of a £1 million contract.
And giant concrete caissons – 51m long and 16.5m high – have been transported from Spain, where they were manufactured, to the port to safely store and prepare them for use in the £400 million Aberdeen Harbour expansion project.
Bob Buskie, chief executive of the Port of Cromarty Firth, said: “These are exciting times for the port and the Highlands. The storage of such massive pieces of infrastructure shows the faith that neighbouring developments have in the Port to house and deliver these huge structures safely.
“Our own plans to expand the port quayside and laydown area and create an Energy and Cruise Hub are on schedule and on budget. We are certain the return on this investment to the local area will be significant for decades to come.
“The Moray East Offshore Windfarm contract is also a huge deal for the port. There is substantial demand for our services and, when our own development is finished, we will be able to accommodate further large-scale projects from across all sectors.”
Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, commented: “It is excellent news for the port and the wider Highland economy that the Port of Cromarty Firth is able to house construction material of such size. It means significant pieces of infrastructure can be delivered to the surrounding area safely, providing a big economic boost to the Highlands and further growing our region economically.”
