New-look harbour secures £450,000 boost
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WICK Habour Authority (WHA) is predicting more than 300 jobs could be created on the back of a new public investment package designed to establish the port as a prime location to service the offshore wind industry.
The authority’s expansion plans to meet the needs of the fledgling sector received a huge boost with the award of £250,000 from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and £200,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
WHA is bidding to get a share of the lucrative work programme associated with the two large offshore wind ventures due to be built in the Moray Firth and is working on a multi-phase programme to construct the facilities required.
The first project will be the installation of heavy lift facilities at the port’s commercial quay and the dredging of the entry channel to the quay.
WHA chairman Willie Watt yesterday said Wick could have a vital role to play in the development of offshore wind turbines in the Moray Firth.
"Since 2005, our board has consistently worked towards achieving commercial sustainability for the harbour in the long term.
"The support and confidence that HIE and NDA have shown is testament to the long-term vision we have planned.
"Our stepping-stone approach has created new job opportunities and confidence around the port and we look forward to developing the harbour in response to the potential that will come from the two major offshore wind projects just off our shores.
"The number of jobs that could be realised will be in excess of 300 and this is just one part of our portfolio that will bring jobs to Caithness and North Sutherland."
Highland Council is not objecting to plans for the two major offshore windfarms earmarked to be built just off the east Caithness Coast. Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd is to construct up to 339 turbines across three offshore wind farms 13.5 miles from Wick as part of a £4.5 billion project.
SSE Renewables and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK also want to install 277 wind turbines 10 kilometres off Lybster.
Both planning applications are currently awaiting final decisions from Scottish ministers.
WHA has been working on its plans with its partners at the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership to attract support for a range of background and technical studies.
Its business plan has been to diversify away from commercial fishing, once Wick’s mainstay but now a diminishing part of its trade. As well as courting marine energy companies, WHA has also been making major strides with its plans to establish the port as a major hub for yachts and recreational craft, with a new marina having proved a popular attraction.
Partnership chairman Sir Anthony Cleaver said the latest funding package was part of its drive to help the far north economy recover from the terminal rundown of Dounreay.
"The partnership identified Wick Harbour Authority’s plans as a priority because of the potential to attract a significant number of new jobs to the area in a key sector, so I am delighted to see this evidence of this progress," he said.
"The ability of partners to come together in this way is one of the key strengths of CNSRP as we continue to address future economic probability."
HIE far north area manager Roy Kirk said it was delighted to support the growth of the infrastructure required to allow the region to get maximum benefit from the sector.
"By combining private and public sector finance sector finance, we are developing the facilities that Wick needs to deliver services for the growing renewables energy industry."
Highland Council’s Caithness civic head Gail Ross said the funding is a massive endorsement of Wick Harbour as being recognised as having an important part to play in the development of offshore wind energy.
"It is good to see further investment into Wick and into Caithness as a whole," she said.
"Wick Harbour is so important to east Caithness and sits great to see partner agencies working together.
"Hopefully this is the start of something big to come."
