Kishorn Port in Wester Ross has been highlighted as a key strategic site for offshore wind following a visit by Scotland’s transport cabinet secretary Fiona Hyslop.
A £42.2m expansion project is under way at the facility, including dry dock expansion and land reclamation to support the manufacture of concrete floating foundations.
Once complete, the development could support up to 1500 jobs by attracting marshalling, integration and fabrication work.
The expansion began in June and is expected to last 18 months.
Investment of up to £24m in the development by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) was confirmed in June by deputy first minister Kate Forbes.
It forms part of the Scottish Government’s £500m commitment to ports and offshore wind over five years.
Hyslop said: “I am pleased to see major expansion works at Kishorn Port progressing at pace, which will enable the port to play a vital role in the delivery of offshore wind projects.
“Ports like Kishorn are crucial in helping to unlock our huge offshore wind potential and I look forward to receiving future updates on the progress of this important development.”
Kishorn Port Limited director Alasdair Ferguson added: “The investment by HIE and the Scottish Government was vital to ensuring Kishorn Port can realise its potential as a strategic location capable of fully supporting current offshore wind developments and capitalising on future opportunities extending beyond Scotland.
“It will provide the catalyst for the support and creation of jobs in Wester Ross and the wider Highlands, benefiting communities across the area, as well as the regional and Scottish economies.”
Ferguson said the new facilities had already received “strong expressions of interest” from projects in Scottish waters as well as the Celtic and Irish seas.
RJ McLeod is principal contractor, with Scottish firms Wallace Stone, Affric and Leapmoor providing supporting services.
Picture: Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, with Kishorn Port director Alasdair Ferguson (centre) and Alastair Nicolson, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) area manager for Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross.