A new development plan for Scotland’s port of Rosyth will include offshore renewable manufacturing and green power generating capacity.
The scheme, laid out by Babcock International, Forth Ports Group and Scarborough Muir Group, also envisions building a new freight terminal and a proposed new rail freight connection.
According to the companies, the development has the potential to deliver £1bn of investment and an estimated 7,000 new direct green jobs. This will come from the development of nearly 150 hectares of land at Rosyth, identified as part of the prospective Forth Green Freeport.
Working with Fife Council – and other bid partners including City of Edinburgh Council, Falkirk Council, Edinburgh Airport and INEOS – the Forth Green Freeport aims to deliver high quality green manufacturing and logistics jobs, repurposing existing assets and driving new skills to accelerate a transition to a low carbon future.
The new jobs would mainly serve activity such as shipping logistics, advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding, in addition to the assembly of offshore wind and low carbon energy generation.
In addition, it is expected that Burntisland will be a sister port facility to the newly created Renewables Hub at the Port of Leith, providing further deepwater access and local supply chain capability as offshore wind deployment accelerates, with energy and low carbon growth creating new employment opportunities.
CEO of Forth Ports Group Charles Hammond commented: “Scotland needs to boost its international connectivity and our plan for new freight hub and rail terminals will offer manufacturers and shippers a fast-track route to global and European markets directly via the North Sea.
“Our plan builds upon the recent DFDS announcement, which aims to see the return of a direct daily freight ferry route to northern Europe from Scotland, while offering an alternative to the congested Dover Straits and reducing dependence on road transport, while boosting trade.”