Aberdeen Harbour is global online star thanks to new webcams

ABERDEEN Harbour has gone viral as tens of thousands of people worldwide go online to tune into its new webcams.

Thousands around the world are viewing Aberdeen Harbour via its new webcams. Picture: Ian Rutherford/TSPL

The cameras installed at the port have been racking up around 45,000 hits a month from homesick ex-pats and maritime enthusiasts from as far afield as Australia, America and Canada.

Local fishermen, dock workers and the Silver City’s committed contingent of hardy surfers are also thought to be making regular use of the technology.

The webcams have been installed at the historic Roundhouse building in the picturesque Footdee waterfront area of the city.

The former Harbour Master’s Station - known locally as the Pilot House -  was built near the beginning of the 19th century and now houses offices of Seacroft Marine Consultants.

The firm set up the four cameras on the outside of the C-listed building to show off the stunning views around the harbour.

Jennifer Fraser, director of the offshore safety company, said: “We know how lucky we are to work in such a historic building at the heart of harbour life and the reaction and feedback we have received since installing the webcams has been absolutely fantastic.”

The free-to-view live streams allow anyone with access to the internet to view the harbour in real time.

They offer views over the Granite City’s beachfront, breakwaters, port and the stunning vessels that are used for the region’s strong ties to the offshore oil and gas industry.

Ms Fraser added: “We hadn’t thought of some of the reasons people may have been interested but we have been amazed by the number of people that have got in touch and been talking about them.

“There has been a lot of nostalgia, particularly from those that have moved away from Aberdeen.

“It is lovely to think we are able to give them a glimpse of home.

“On the other side they are proving useful for people wanting to check out conditions before heading to the beach, and surfers in particular have mentioned how helpful they are proving to be.

“For us it started off as a chance to share Scottish harbour life and it has now turned into much more than that.”

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