£60m contracts awarded to build half-kilometre breakwater at Aberdeen Harbour

Aberdeen Harbour Board has awarded new contracts worth £60 million for the construction of a breakwater more than half a kilometre long.

Van Oord will act as the principal contractor for the 550-metre-long south breakwater, while Scottish construction firm Beattie FRC will build the concrete crown wall along the length of the north breakwater.

Both structures will provide “critical protection” for vessels and operations within the harbour expansion, ultimately protecting the port from a one-in-300-year storm. Work is due to start on site imminently.

Keith Young, project director at Aberdeen Harbour Board, said: “The construction of the south breakwater and crown wall form a significant part of the final 30 per cent of construction, and I look forward to seeing the structures take shape in the coming months.

Aberdeen Harbour Board has awarded two new contracts for its South Harbour expansion project.

“Van Oord and Beattie FRC bring a wealth of engineering skill and innovation to the project, and their work will ultimately ensure smooth and safe marine and land-based operations at South Harbour for our customers and port users.”

Paul Hesk, area manager for Van Oord, said: “We are very pleased that Aberdeen Harbour Board has entrusted us with delivering a further critical element of its harbour expansion project.”

The ten-meter-high crown wall – or wave wall – will be built using concrete produced at the batching plant on the north-west corner of the expansion site.

Beattie FRC director Vincent O’Donnell said: “The Aberdeen Harbour expansion project is a significant project for Scotland, and we are proud to build the crown wall, which is significant to the overall running of South Harbour.”

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