£17 million investment could make Scrabster oil supply base
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SCRABSTER harbour is undertaking a multimillion-pound investment in a bid to become a supply base for oil and gas developments west of Sheltand and double the number of cruise ships that visit the port.
That was said by Eann Sinclair, Highlands and Islands Enterprise's area manager for Caithness and Sutherland, when he spoke at the latest meeting of the Thurso and Wick Trade Union Council.
He said the redevelopment of the Ola pier, which is expected to cost around £17 million, would enable the harbour to play a greater role in servicing the energy sector and cater for more cruise vessels.
Mr Sinclair said the latter was becoming increasingly important and stressed the work on the Ola pier would enable more vessels to come to Scrabster and berth at the quay.
"There is a niche market for medium-sized cruise ships," he said. "The redevelopment of the Ola has the potential to double the amount of traffic over the next five years."
At present, the port caters for up to 12 cruise ships a year.
Mr Sinclair said the work at the pier would also make the harbour more attractive as a forward supply base for the oil and gas developments west of Shetland as Scrabster is the closest mainland port. It was pointed out there is a lot of investment by multinational oil companies in that area and Scrabster could play a key role as a service base.
"They would not have been in that position five years ago but now industry is coming and saying what it requires. With what is happening at Scrabster and Wick harbours, the spaceport in Sutherland and onshore and offshore wind, things are coming together now but it was always going to be a long-term project," he said.
The multimillion-pound investment will provide a double-sided pier, 250 metres to 280 metres long, and increase capacity by allowing vessels to berth on both sides. It is expected the work will be completed by the end of 2020.
Funding is likely to come from Scrabster Harbour Trust as well as Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Scrabster harbour has seen a number of developments over the last 15 years with more than £40 million being invested.
That included the £22 million development of the Queen Elizabeth Pier with a further £17.3 million spent on the Jubilee Quay.
