Cruise trade at Scrabster on the rise as harbour prepares for liner visit
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The post-Covid bounce in Scrabster's cruise trade is continuing with a record number of vessels and passengers expected this year.
The redevelopment of the port's St Ola pier has primed the growth which is set to provide a much-needed boost to far north tourism.
The return visit of the Seabourne Ovation on May 14 is the first of 20 liners scheduled to berth at the Caithness harbour this year.
They are expected to carry more than 12,000 passengers – well above previous totals.
Though still significantly below the numbers being attracted to Invergordon, Kirkwall and Lerwick, Scrabster Harbour Trust chiefs are quietly confident its upward trajectory will continue.
Port manager Sandy Mackie said: "This year's numbers are encouraging though, of course, the programme is weather-dependent. Our previous highest number was about 14 or 15.
"The growth is an indication that cruise companies are interested not only in the facilities we can provide at the port but also in the attractions Caithness and north Sutherland can offer their passengers."
Mr Mackie said the £20 million widening and deepening of the St Ola pier gives a major fillip to Scrabster's bid to win more cruise traffic.
The former ferry terminal can now accommodate liners up to 250 metres long.
Last August, Scrabster welcomed its biggest ever visitor when the 781-foot long Zaandam tied up at the revamped pier during a 19-day trip from Rotterdam to Boston.
Previously all liners calling at the port berthed at the deep-water Queen Elizabeth pier.
Mr Mackie said it is a major benefit to have a pier where the vessels can be accommodated without having to plan around ferry movements.
"Having the St Ola available to act as a dedicated cruise ship berth has made a big difference in terms of the logistics," he said.
"It greatly enhances the number of potential cruise vessels we can get into Scrabster."
Mr Mackie said doubts about whether the cruise industry would recover after being brought to a standstill by the pandemic have proved wide of the mark.
He said Scrabster has shared in what appears to be a worldwide major recovery in business.
He said this year's arrivals are a mix of return and first-time visits.
"The picture throughout Scotland seems to be pretty positive and we are sharing that.
"Building up our numbers is not going to be an overnight job but I think over time, we'll succeed."
Mr Mackie said there have also been improvements in the co-ordination and planning of the visits and attractions available for passengers when they come ashore.
He said: "Last November, we organised an event to bring together local tourist providers with the people who organise the shore excursions.
"It was very well received and has increased the awareness of the wealth of attractions we have in the area."
Thurso Highland Councillor Ron Gunn welcomed the upbeat outlook for the local cruise trade.
"It's certainly good news for the county," he said. "If we get more passengers coming ashore, then more money is going to be spent in local shops and businesses."
Councillor Gunn was at the November meeting and he believes it can resolve some of the gremlins which affected some previous cruise ship arrivals.
He said: "Hopefully there will now be more information coming out in advance so that local shops and businesses can be better prepared.
"Some complained that they didn't know there was a liner coming in."
There had also been a shortage of taxis and other problems for passengers getting to and from Thurso.
"Hopefully lessons have been learned and I'm confident that after the get-together, things will be better co-ordinated this year," said Councillor Gunn.
The 40,300-tonne Seabourne Ovation is due to arrive from Portree in the morning of May 14 and sail for Invergordon in the early evening.
