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New Quayside unveiled at Port of Nigg

4C Offshore | Tom Russell
By: Tom Russell 04/07/2022 Global Energy Group

The Port of Nigg has unveiled its new East Quay, which, at 225m long and 50m wide, increases the port facility’s deep water quayside capacity to over 1,200 metres. The opening of the new quay aims to accommodate the demands for future floating offshore wind sector opportunities.

Marine construction works for the East Quay commenced in April 2021 with construction contractor Farrans Construction delivering the quay on schedule and on budget. At 225m long, 50m wide and offering 12m LAT water depth, the East Quay adds to the port’s Inner Dock Quay (240m), South Quay (370m), West Finger Quay (130m long, 40m wide with a berth on either side and on the end) and Terminal Jetty (which offers 22m LAT water depth).

The deep-water quayside exists in tandem with laydown areas both adjacent to the quay and within the 740,000 m2 site, as well as multiple project offices for clients, on site accommodation and a range of on-site services, including mobile and crawler cranes, stevedoring and ships agency services.

The Port is supported by on-site services from the Global Energy Group portfolio of companies, delivering fabrication, repair, maintenance, enhancement and conversion projects for the renewables, oil & gas, and nuclear sectors.


Speaking about the unveiling of the new quay, which has welcomed its first vessel - the Boa Sub C - which is loading out structures fabricated at Nigg for the oil and gas industry, Rory Gunn, Facilities Director, said: “Our new East Quay helps us better service our existing customer’s needs, in the renewables, oil and gas, and nuclear sectors, and the enhanced capabilities will assist us to attract inward investment with a vision to create long term skilled manufacturing jobs at our port which will become a National hub for the renewables industry. Operationally, the additional quay and associated laydown area provides us with a lot of flexibility, and this multi-million pound investment is further evidence of our commitment to ensure our facility is “best in class” for meeting both existing and future industry demands.

“It will be a huge selling point for us when tendering for the next generation of floating offshore wind projects, with the additional deep-water quayside allowing us to do the fabrication and assembly of the floating hulls at the port’s South Quay area while the wind turbine integration onto the floating foundations is being conducted at the East Quay.”

 
Roy MacGregor, Chairman of Global Energy Group, which owns and operates the Port of Nigg commented: “I can’t underestimate what a huge benefit the new East Quay will be to the Port of Nigg and its supply chain, and what an enhancement the development is to the Cromarty Firth’s bid for Green Freeport status. The increase of our deep-water quayside capacity to over 1,200m provides the necessary infrastructure for supporting the next generation of floating offshore wind at a time when the SOWEC Report and other major studies have identified the Cromarty Firth as the only location in the UK with the physical characteristics and port facilities that could feasibly support their development.”


The multi-million-pound investment in the East Quay has been supported by Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Scottish Government.

Stuart Black, chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “The Highlands and Islands region has many natural advantages for renewable energy development and the transition to a net zero economy, and our ports and harbours have a vital role to play. Port of Nigg has been a key player in the energy sector for many years, particularly in the growth of renewables. We are very pleased to have supported the development of this new facility, which will benefit the region’s economy for many years to come.”
 

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