Highland port cashes in on cruise liners

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 20:02

A RECORD number of visits by cruise liners and a rise in rig repair work has helped the Highlands' largest deepwater port increase turnover and profit.

In its annual report, the Cromarty Firth Port Authority records a 15.3 per cent increase in turnover from 2.8 million to 3.2 million; profits rose 29 per cent from 283,941 to 367,058.

Inspection, repair and maintenance work on rigs in Invergordon was buoyant, with a 42 per cent rise on the previous year from 272 rig days to 386.

In 2008, 52 liners and 48,100 passengers visited Invergordon.