The Port of Nigg in Scotland has unveiled its new East Quay, which increases the port facility’s deep water quayside capacity to over 1200 metres.
The opening of the new quay will ensure that the port facility has the required infrastructure in place to accommodate the demands for future floating offshore wind sector opportunities.
Port of Nigg facilities director Rory Gunn said: “Our new East Quay helps us better service our existing customer’s needs, in the renewables, oil and gas, and nuclear sectors, and the enhanced capabilities will assist us to attract inward investment with a vision to create long term skilled manufacturing jobs at our port which will become a National hub for the renewables industry.
“Operationally, the additional quay and associated laydown area provides us with a lot of flexibility, and this multi-million pound investment is further evidence of our commitment to ensure our facility is ‘best in class’ for meeting both existing and future industry demands.
“It will be a huge selling point for us when tendering for the next generation of floating offshore wind projects, with the additional deep-water quayside allowing us to do the fabrication and assembly of the floating hulls at the port’s South Quay area while the wind turbine integration onto the floating foundations is being conducted at the East Quay.”
Global Energy Group chairman Roy MacGregor said: “I can’t underestimate what a huge benefit the new East Quay will be to the Port of Nigg and its supply chain, and what an enhancement the development is to the Cromarty Firth’s bid for Green Freeport status.
“The increase of our deep-water quayside capacity to over 1200 metres provides the necessary infrastructure for supporting the next generation of floating offshore wind at a time when the SOWEC Report and other major studies have identified the Cromarty Firth as the only location in the UK with the physical characteristics and port facilities that could feasibly support their development.”
The multi-million-pound investment in the East Quay has been supported by Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Scottish Government.
HIE chief executive Stuart Black said: “The Highlands and Islands region has many natural advantages for renewable energy development and the transition to a net zero economy, and our ports and harbours have a vital role to play.
“Port of Nigg has been a key player in the energy sector for many years, particularly in the growth of renewables.
“We are very pleased to have supported the development of this new facility, which will benefit the region’s economy for many years to come.”
Marine construction works for the East Quay started in April 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, with construction contractor, Farrans Construction, delivering the quay on schedule and on budget.
The quay will be Port of Nigg’s main quayside for shipping activities while also giving it the flexibility of having quaysides available if they take the dock dry for a major project.
It is 225 metres long, 50 metres wide and offering 12-metre LAT water depth.
The East Quay adds to the port’s Inner Dock Quay (240 metres), South Quay (370 metres), West Finger Quay (130 metres long, 40-metre wide with a berth on either side and on the end) and Terminal Jetty (which offers 22-metre LAT water depth).
The deep-water quayside is complemented by extensive laydown area both adjacent to the quay and within the 740,000m2 site, as well as multiple project offices for clients, on site accommodation and a range of on-site services, including mobile and crawler cranes, stevedoring and ships agency services.