More than 60% of Port of Aberdeen’s £400M (US$460M) South Harbour development is now operational as the port eyes growth in new sectors such as offshore wind
Handover from construction to operations for the Dunnottar, Crathes and Castlegate (East) Quays was completed this week.
Castlegate (West) is scheduled to open in December 2022 and the remaining Balmoral Quay will be brought into service in Q2 2023, making Aberdeen the largest berthage port in Scotland.
More than 25 vessels have berthed at Aberdeen South Harbour during a ‘soft start’ to operations which began in July. A number of new and existing customers have already used the facility.
The South Harbour expansion will add 1.4 km of deepwater berthage; accommodate ships up to 300 m in length; incorporate extensive heavy-lift zones up to 15 /m2; and offer 125,000 m2 of flexible laydown space and expansive project areas.
South Harbour is the largest marine infrastructure project underway in the UK and an asset of national strategic significance, included in the Scottish Government and UK Government’s NPF3 planning framework and Scotland’s draft NPF4.
Port of Aberdeen chief executive Bob Sanguinetti said, “I am delighted with the continued progress of our port expansion. This is an exciting time at South Harbour as it has now moved from being largely a construction project to an operational harbour.
“South Harbour will be at the heart of the development and expansion of high potential sectors, including offshore wind, green hydrogen and decommissioning.
“When we reach the full potential of our expanded port, it will bolster the regional and national economies by £2.4Bn GVA and support 17,500 jobs, both local to the port and further afield.”
