Ground breaking milestone for major new harbour development
16 May 2022
Stornoway Port Authority has officially begun work on a new £49 million deep water terminal following a turf cutting ceremony carried out by Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Mairi Gougeon; and harbour board chief executive, Alex Macleod.
Work is expected to be complete before the end of next year, with civil engineering firm McLaughlin and Harvey tasked with the construction contract.
The new terminal will provide modern facilities for a variety of sectors, including the energy and transport industries, and its design will enable it to be adapted for a wide range of future uses.
As well as being able to accommodate on and offshore wind farm vessels and support other energy sector activity, its main berth will be suitable for the largest cruise liners, which will help boost the islands’ important tourism industry.
John Swinney said: “I am very happy to see the progress that’s being made in the creation of a new gateway to the Outer Hebrides. The development of the Stornoway deep water terminal will deliver a major boost to the local economy and for Scotland’s aspirations to grow our renewables and cruise sectors.
“The terminal is a key element of the Islands Growth Deal and will play a vital role in the expansion of the offshore renewables supply chain in the wake of the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round. I look forward to seeing the development come to life as it delivers a lasting impact in our islands.”
Alex Macleod, Stornoway Port Authority chief executive, said: “The turf cutting ceremony marks the beginning of an exciting period for Stornoway Port Authority.
“A huge amount of work has been carried out to get the deep water terminal project off the ground and we are looking forward to seeing our plans become a reality.
“The tangible benefits that this development will bring to the entire of the Outer Hebrides indicate an exciting future for the region and the port authority is proud to be playing a central role in this transformational development.”
The new harbour will handle larger ships