The Port of Cromarty Firth in Invergordon has secured the contracts from Seaway Heavy Lifting.

The contracts will support the installation of the 84-turbine Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited (BOWL).

This is a “significant” project for the Port of Cromarty Firth, which says it has been working to attract projects into the firth in the current oil and gas downturn. It says the two renewables contracts “are worth approximately 10 per cent of the port’s annual turnover”.

A new berth constructed with an investment of £25 million to attract more work from the renewables sector will be used.

The project was part-funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the European Regional Development Fund.

The berth opened in December 2015 and was used by the Corriemoille onshore wind farm project last year.

The first of the two new contracts is for berth and laydown space and the second is for office space at the port. Work will commence during the second quarter of 2017 and Beatrice Offshore Wind farm installation activity is scheduled for 2017 and 2018.

Bob Buskie, chief executive of the Port of Cromarty Firth, said: “We are delighted to have won these high-level contracts which will help secure jobs in the firth. In light of the challenges in North Sea oil and gas, we have adapted our structure to focus more on new business development opportunities.

“It is fantastic that Seaway Heavy Lifting are using the new berth, as we designed it with offshore renewable projects in mind. We know that the port is well placed for the Beatrice Offshore Wind farm, as demonstrated by other organisations in the Cromarty Firth successfully winning contracts. We’re hopeful that this new project will now lead to further contracts for companies operating in the firth.”

Danny Sprangers, project marine coordination manager from Seaway Heavy Lifting said the port was “a natural partner” and “perfectly positioned geographically” for the wind farm.

He said: ” By choosing a trust port as our partner, this project will deliver benefits to the port’s wider community through future reinvestment.”

The £2.6bn Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL) project has been given the green light for construction by the owners SSE (40 per cent), Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) (35 per cent) and Red Rock Power Limited (25 per cent) after reaching financial close on May 23, 2016. The project will be one of the largest private investments ever made in Scottish infrastructure.

Source: Ross-Shire Journal