The first shipment of XXL monopile foundations for the 1GW Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm has arrived at the Port of Leith, marking the start of a new phase of offshore construction for the project and a milestone for Forth Ports’ renewables hub.
Inch Cape will be the first project to use the transformed facility, where components for all 72 foundations will be offloaded, marshalled, stored and loaded out for installation.
Eight monopiles were transported by heavy transport vessel to the new deep-water Charles Hammond Berth, redeveloped as part of a £150 million investment at the 175-acre site, including £50 million committed on the back of the Inch Cape work.
Each monopile measures up to 103 metres and weighs around 2300 tonnes.
John Hill, project director of Inch Cape, said: “This first monopile delivery into Leith kicks-off a key phase of offshore construction, and we are delighted to be the inaugural project to utilise Forth Ports’ renewables hub. Monopile supplier CWHI has done an outstanding job, fabricating the monopiles on time, within budget and with more than a million hours of safe work.”
The project will comprise 54 XXL monopiles and transition pieces and 18 three-legged jacket foundations with three pin piles per jacket, all being delivered to Leith before installation.
As activity increases, more than 100 people will work at the site, with Forth Projects – part of the Forth Ports Group – acting as principal contractor.
Derek Knox, regional director for Scotland at Forth Ports, said: “The arrival of the first monopiles for Inch Cape is a momentous day for the team in Leith. We have transformed Leith into a world-class renewables hub and the Charles Hammond Berth has been created specifically to handle the world’s largest offshore energy vessels.
“It is fantastic to see the berth and laydown land doing what they were built to do. As principal contractor, we have an exciting year ahead as our team of experts welcomes the project’s foundation components. We have invested in our infrastructure and marine vessels and created new skilled jobs to deliver this major project. Our sister port in Dundee will also play a key role in 2026 as the turbine pre-assembly and marshalling hub.”
The Charles Hammond Berth features a heavy-lift capacity of 100 tonnes per square metre and 175 acres of adjacent land for renewables logistics, marshalling and manufacturing.
Installation of the XXL monopile foundations will begin before the end of 2025 using Jan De Nul’s heavy-lift vessel Les Alizés and continue into 2026.
Inch Cape will feature 72 Vestas 15MW turbines and a single offshore substation installed in August. First power is expected in late 2026 with full operations in 2027.
The project is owned equally by ESB and Red Rock Renewables and will generate almost 5TWh of electricity annually, enough to power half the homes in Scotland.