Aberdeen Harbour Chief Stresses Improved Accessibility

Other projects include, widening and deepening the navigation channel in order to accommodate the latest generation of vessels servicing the oil and gas and renewables industries, as well as helping to combat the impact of the occasional South easterly swell. Road access to Waterloo Quay will also be improved and the existing transit shed will undergo refurbishment to become a receipts and dispatches facility.

In line with previous years, overall vessel tonnage increased by seven per cent, from 24.2 million gross tonnes in 2010, to 25.9 million gross tonnes in 2011.

This amounted to an increase in annual turnover of six per cent, rising from GBP22.64 million in 2010 to GBP24.1 million in 2011 and a retained profit of GBP2.11 million in 2011, compared to GBP1.13 million in 2010.

With upwards of GBP15.5 million invested in projects throughout 2011, including the first phase of the Torry Quay redevelopment and the creation of stronger and deeper quays at Commercial Quay East, the port was able to handle larger vessels and more diverse cargoes, including six shipments of wind turbine parts destined for the Hill of Towie onshore wind farm project in Aberdeenshire.

The Board will also continue to work with Aberdeen City Council on the Aberdeen Harbour Development Framework, which considers the physical and visual connections between the Harbour and the City.