Wick jobs hope as wind farms await go-ahead
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UP to 100 jobs could be created at Wick Harbour if two large-scale windfarms off the Caithness coast are given the green light.
Wick Harbour Authority (WHA) vice-chairman Gordon Doull made the claim to the John O’Groat Journal yesterday as the port prepares to battle for business as a maintenance and service base for the two developments.
Mr Doull said the harbour authority was monitoring the planning applications for Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited and Moray Offshore Renewables – both close to Wick and both of which have applications pending with Marine Scotland.
“Assuming that goes positively and the company decide to make a major investment, we would certainly hope to be in with a shout for an operations and maintenance base for either one or both of the windfarms,” said Mr Doull.
“If we could clinch a deal with either of those developments, it would certainly transform the harbour in terms of jobs.
“We’re talking about up to 100 jobs based around the harbour but obviously that depends on getting the contract.”
Mr Doull said that WHA are in talks with the two companies, SSE (Beatrice) and Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd but that nothing could firm up until the firms obtained planning permission.
Marine Scotland is expected to make up its mind in the spring or summer of 2013.
Mr Doull reckons that choosing Wick as the base makes sense for the renewable energy firms.
“We are certainly going to be the closest port to them – the nearest turbines on the Beatrice field could well be only a matter of eight miles away,” he said.
“We feel we have a good chance especially with all the other major assets we have, such as the airport and North Highland College UHI’s new engineering centre in Thurso.
“If all goes well we would certainly hope to be in the running.”
The nearest contenders for the business would be Invergordon and Buckie but the distances involved could edge the decision in Wick’s favour.
And already the port authority is proving it can handle such business with it currently halfway through the delivery of hulking components for the
Camster windfarm from the quayside.
Four ships have already arrived with consignments and a fifth is expected to dock early next week.
Another four ships should complete the contact which has provided a boost at the end of the season for the port.
“We’re delighted to see that business,” said Mr Doull.
“Obviously it’s a good bonus in revenue for us and we have plenty of quay space to accommodate storage if there are any delays in delivering parts to the site.
“Long may it continue.”
Another successful venture has been the 70 berth marina which has exceeded targets set by WHA for capacity.
“This is our fourth season and we’re almost full up and our target was to do that by the end of our fifth,” said Mr Doull.
“Having said that we were practically full up by the end of last season. In that respect it’s been a great success.”
He added: “It’s not a great moneyspinner but it has improved the atmosphere round the harbour and everyone is delighted with it.”
Meanwhile the end of the yachting season has arrived with small boats due to get lifted out of the marina tomorrow and stored on the quay for the winter. Mr Doull said that despite a poor summer the WHA were happy with how things had panned out.
“We’ve had a reasonably successful season in the marina but because of the poor weather which has been affecting everyone our numbers are probably down about 10 per cent for visiting yachts from last year,” he said.
“The upside from that is that a lot of the visiting yachts that have been coming have been staying for two or three nights.
“So at the end of the day although total number of visitors may be down, the actual nights in port are probably breaking even with last year.”
