Deep water port drilling

Seabed drilling tests start this week under plans to create a deep-water port at Stornoway.

Building a £50 million new harbour south of the River Creed includes proposals for a back-up ferry pier, berth for bigger cruise ships plus developing an industrial base for oil, gas and marine renewables.

This would provide space for any future relocation of the oil terminal and storage tanks out of town, permit bulk cargo handling, storage and warehousing.

A deep-water port is a crucial part of Stornoway Port Authority’s (SPA) ambitious 20-year masterplan.

Exploratory work in Glumaig Bay will identify the seabed conditions early in the project and is a key milestone to the harbour board’s commitment to the development.

Over the next seven weeks, 24 boreholes will be drilled at Glumaig Bay, going down up to 30 metres to obtain samples of sediment and rock for analysis.

The information will be used to identify the depths, materials and locations to be dredged, as well as data required to design the reclamation and berthing structures adjacent to Arnish

While the equipment is on site a similar but smaller scale exercise will be carried out in Newton Basin by Goat Island where there are plans to build a yacht marina. Seven boreholes will be drilled to see if the seabed is suitable to install pontoons for 72 yachts.

All boreholes will be sealed after drilling ends.

Northern Irish company Causeway Geotech has been awarded the underwater investigation contract by the harbour board.

It is estimated the cruise sector alone could generate significant additional income by creating berthing facilities for larger vessels that cannot currently berth alongside.

SPA chief executive Alex MacLeod said: “The award of this contract is the first step on the road to delivering our master plan and demonstrates our commitment to its implementation.

“We are delighted that work is now getting under way and we aim to press ahead so that Stornoway, its residents and our partners can enjoy the economic rewards from this development as quickly as possible.”

Test drilling begins for Stornoway deep-water port

23 November 2017