Dundee port set for record £10m investment

Forth Ports has outlined plans for the largest investment in the history of the Port of Dundee.

The Ensco 100 jack-up rig at the Port of Dundee. Picture: Alan Richardson

The ports owner is to invest more than £10 million to create a new quayside with “heavy lift” capability as it seeks to win more work in the North Sea oil and gas and offshore wind sectors.

Edinburgh-based Forth Ports said the privately-funded investment will see the development of the quayside at the east end of the port, connecting to the existing Prince Charles Wharf.

Chief executive Charles Hammond said the port was “ideally placed to service the needs of North Sea oil and gas, decommissioning and Scotland’s offshore wind sector over the coming years”.

He added: “The port’s existing skills base and location, combined with its riverside berths, deep water and rock river bed, put the port in a key position to become a hub for these sectors for construction, operations and maintenance and for decommissioning.

“Our investment also puts Dundee in a position to benefit from offshore renewable projects such as Neart na Gaoithe, which has the potential to deliver cost-efficient renewable energy and economic benefits for Dundee. We are committed to investing in the port to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to support these industries and for the city of Dundee to fully capitalise on the significant opportunities they present.”

Work on the project has already kicked off and construction is expected to take 18 months to complete. Once finished, the strengthened quayside will be 200 metres longer than at present. It will also be able to handle large-scale marine projects such as offshore anchor and chain servicing and offshore wind turbine assembly and deployment.

Forth Ports also owns and operates six ports on the Firth of Forth – Burntisland, Grangemouth, Kirkcaldy, Leith, Methil and Rosyth – as well as Tilbury on the Thames.