Stornoway’s new yacht marine is due to open in the spring.
Some 75 berths are being built at Goat Island to meet the growing demand in marine tourism.
The addition of the facility will allow 155 leisure craft to tie up in Stornoway.
The Outer Hebrides is a key sailing destination for visitors, and Stornoway is an important link in the chain of marinas from Barra to Lewis.
The first phase of the marina development is about to be completed.
RJ McLeod Contractors Ltd were awarded a £5 million contract in March that involved the dredging and reclamation of the area.
Pontoons are planned to be installed in March with the marina open for yachts immediately afterwards.
A yacht lift facility will open later next year.
Work on the remaining projects at Goat Island, including a marine engineering workshop
and new-
The £11 million project has received £3.5 million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise as well as £2.75 million from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Scottish Government via the Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.
The new facilities will complement the Port Authority’s existing marina that was expanded in 2014 and can take 80 leisure craft. However, the berths filled up soon after they were installed and there has been a shortage of space during the summer and winter seasons.
Alex Macleod, Stornoway Port Authority’s chief executive, said: “2020 will be an exciting year for the Port Authority and our ambitions to improve facilities and maximise economic opportunities for the Outer Hebrides.
“Completing the marina project will represent an important milestone and provide a significant asset at a time when the focus will be on marine leisure facilities during the Year of Coasts and Waters.”
Progress is also being made on another part of the harbour board’s masterplan, the creation of a deep water port at Stornoway.
This month, the Port Authority was granted planning permission in principle for the peripheral activities associated with the new harbour.
The deep water port will be one of the biggest projects ever undertaken in the Hebrides and is regarded as being essential in allowing the Outer Hebrides to benefit from the growing cruise tourism market that will bring new income and jobs to the islands.
Creating facilities for larger cruise liners will help attract up to another 40 vessels a year.
Marine consulting civil engineers Wallace Stone are working on the design with hopes a fully consented project will be achieved in 2020.
The next stage ill see new seabed investigation works carried out to provide further information on the geology in the harbour.
Alex Macleod added: “These tests are part of the ongoing investigation work needed to prepare the best design for the deep water port.
“The results will provide us with the best technical data on the complex geology in the harbour and to reduce the construction risks associated with such a major project.
“This process will result in further development of the layout and design of the deep water port and is essentially to reduce all project risks to an absolute minimum. This major project will be developed further in 2020 ensuring that the economic benefits can be realised as soon as possible “
New Stornoway yacht marina on course for completion
26 December 2019
