Monday, January 30, 2017 - 10:50 by ce-press
Aberdeen Harbour is expanding its facilities into Nigg Bay which is south of the existing harbour. Preferred bidder Dragados UK has already started preparation for construction which is scheduled for completion in 2020.
Planning consent for the £350m project, in the form of marine licenses and a harbour revision order by the Scottish government, was granted towards the end of 2016 and sanctioned by the Board in December.
“We are delighted that, after six years of detailed planning and extensive consultation with our many stakeholders and the regulatory authorities, we are now in a position to proceed with the project,” commented Colin Parker, chief executive Aberdeen Harbour Board.
The potential of the Scottish cruise market is one of the key arguments for the proposed expansion. The project includes the dredging of areas within Nigg Bay, the construction of two breakwaters and the development of quayside on the north and west of the bay. The resulting facilities would include 1,400m of new quay, with a water depth of up to 10.5m, and 125,000m2 of lay-down area.
These facilities will transform the port’s ability to accommodate the larger cruise vessels that are increasingly visiting Scotland.
Parker said: “Aberdeen city and shire is an incredible venue for the global cruise market. The attractions of Royal Deeside, castles, world-class golf courses, some of the most famous whisky distilleries in the world all with the backdrop of the Cairngorm Mountains and beautiful coast line, make it clear why the area is becoming a firm favourite with cruise passengers from all over the world. That we will very soon have the capacity to host the larger vessels that support this activity is fantastic news for the industry and for the region”.
