Port of Cromarty Firth / Invergordon

Port of Cromarty Firth / Invergordon

Port of Cromarty Firth is the largest Port in the Highlands and one of the deepest, most sheltered ports in the country. It is a leading hub for offshore renewable energy projects, a primary location for oil rig Inspection, Repair and Maintenance (IRM) & subsea work and Scotland’s busiest cruise port. The combination of sheltered deep waters and east-west alignment; compatible with the prevailing winds and tides, offers ease of access for the largest structures. This is a unique location in close proximity to North Sea energy developments.

The Port is ideally placed for the next round of Scottish offshore wind projects (ScotWind), with 15 of the 17 identified development sites in close proximity to the Cromarty Firth. The Port supported the 588MW Beatrice offshore wind farm with the marshalling and construction of jacket foundations and will host the turbine components for EDPR’s 950MW Moray East project. The Invergordon Service Base has also handled the decommissioning of semi-submersible rigs, renewable energy turbines and subsea manifolds.

Headquartered at Invergordon, the Port of Cromarty Firth is home to 6 key marine facilities, of which the Port of Cromarty Firth is the statutory Port Authority. These facilities include Highland Deephaven Spoolbase & Industrial Estate, Admiralty Pier, Saltburn Pier, Nigg Oil Terminal, Nigg Energy Park and Invergordon Service Base. Infrastructure investments of over £110m have been made in recent years, ensuring the facilities of the Cromarty Firth can support the future requirements of the offshore energy sector.

These facilities combined, offer over 2,000 metres of quayside with water depths up to 14 metres, a dry dock, a wet dock and sheltered anchorages up to 30m in water depth. The Cromarty Firth is home to a proven supply chain of world-class energy service companies, with considerable experience and expertise covering a wide range of essential capabilities. The Port of Cromarty Firth has a significant track record in successfully completing major energy and engineering projects, including: offshore wind construction, marshalling & storage, rig IRM, decommissioning projects, subsea fabrication and marine asset anchoring.

The Port are also leading an ambitious initiative aimed at creating a ‘Free Trade Zone’ in the Cromarty Firth, as part of the UK Government’s post-Brexit economic growth strategy. Opportunity Cromarty Firth is backed by the Port along with Global Energy Group, The Highland Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and wider partners from industry, academia and the public sector. Its primary objective is to maximise the local benefits from a pipeline of renewable energy projects, which will create business opportunities and employment, attract inward investment, research and development, and position the Highlands at the heart of the country’s commitment to becoming a net-zero economy.

Cromarty Firth represents the ideal location to establish a free trade zone. The area is steeped in industrial history, having supported North Sea oil & gas activity since the 1970s and is now playing a critical role in the Scottish offshore wind sector. The Firth hosts a number of leading supply chain companies as well as a locally skilled workforce with essential engineering experience. This

The Invergordon Service Base was constructed in the 1980s and lies at the heart of the Firth. It is owned and operated by the Port of Cromarty Firth. The array of companies available ensures an efficient, cost-effective and comprehensively managed project, delivered by an experienced team of people highly skilled in cargo handling, logistics and offshore fabrication, maintenance and repair. The Base provides over 800 metres of quayside with water depths up to 14m, including a wet dock. 45 acres of laydown space is available, plus storage, warehousing and car parking for up to 320 vehicles. The Port is accessible in any weather conditions; providing a truly year round facility.

Port Services

An experienced supply chain is available to provide stevedoring, rigging / slinging, craneage, forklift, ships agency, tugs and other port related services. In addition Pot of Cromarty Firth can provide water, fuel, storage rental, hard standing project area rental and office rental to third party companies.

Future Development Plans

The Port are in the final stages of construction the latest infrastructure expansion, a £30m investments providing a new 218m quayside and 9 acres of adjacent laydown area. This is due to be completed in 2020 and builds on the expansion in 2015/16, which combined will offer over 350m deep-water quayside and more than 110,000sqm laydown space capable of heavy load-bearing.

Location