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Port of Cromarty Firth chief executive Bob Buskie welcomes report that names site as best place for new offshore wind port cluster


By Gregor White

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The Cromarty Firth could spearhead new wind power developments. Picture: Malcolm McCurrach
The Cromarty Firth could spearhead new wind power developments. Picture: Malcolm McCurrach

Work must start now to ensure Ross-shire can take maximum advantage of a rapid expansion of Scotland’s offshore wind sector a port boss has said.

The Port of Cromarty Firth has welcomed a new report that names it as the prime location for the formation of an offshore wind port cluster that could deliver a huge economic boost to the nation.

A key recommendation of the assessment commissioned by the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC), states Cromarty Firth’s strategic location and current and future manufacturing capabilities as well as its marshalling and assembly capacity mean it is best placed to absorb a massive increase in the volume of work created by the rapid expansion of the sector.

The report states: “As our analysis demonstrates, the Cromarty Firth emerges as the most suitable location in Scotland for (floating offshore wind) platform fabrication and manufacture, with the two ports of Invergordon and Nigg acting as the focus of effort to secure platform fabrication and manufacture.

“These ports have sufficient capacity available or close to being ready as well as suitable quayside facilities for construction and movement of floating platforms. The wider Cromarty Firth offers space for wet storage of platforms and close access to many potential ScotWind sites.”

Bob Buskie, chief executive of the Port of Cromarty Firth, said: “The report has highlighted not only our existing collaborative capabilities but also our ability to significantly expand in the future.

“Much of this work is thanks to the sterling efforts of Opportunity Cromarty Firth, a dynamic partnership of private and public sector organisations and academic bodies, including the port.

“The Port of Cromarty Firth, together with Global Energy Group at the Port of Nigg, have had the foresight to invest in excess of £100 million to position the Cromarty Firth at the heart of Scotland’s offshore renewables industry.

“This report highlights the benefit of collaborative working and we hope that its strategic investment recommendation in significant additional infrastructure is in line with the Scottish Government’s funding appetite to ensure the opportunity in front of us is maximised.

“It is vital that work begins now on realising the opportunity we have to build a valuable and sustainable offshore wind sector in Scotland. We cannot do this alone, and urge everyone in the public and private sectors to work together to make this exciting vision of a new and established clean energy industry, bringing with it quality jobs and a pipeline of work for decades to come, a reality.”


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