Funding has been secured to drive forward the second phase of upgrades at Scrabster Harbour in Caithness.

Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE) awarded £3 million funding for the project, which will see the redevelopment of the existing St Ola pier to create further deep-water infrastructure and meet anticipated demand from cruise ships and offshore energy supply vessels.

Further works include the installation of a new piled quay wall and pier deck. Both the inner and outer side of the pier will also be dredged to create water depth of no less than 9m.


When complete, the harbour will be able to welcome cruise ships of up to 250 metres and supply vessels up to 170 metres.

Sandy Mackie, Scrabster Harbour Trust manager, said: "The HIE award is tremendous news for the port and the area, marking another important milestone in our efforts to deliver the St Ola project. The procurement process to select a contractor for the works is underway. The current project programme targets the construction works beginning early in 2020."

These works form the second part of a wider £17 million harbour master plan of phased development by Scrabster Harbour Trust (SHT). Phase one saw the £17.6m redevelopment of the old fish market pier to create a modern multi-purpose quay facility renamed the Jubilee Quay, which opened in 2013.

(CM/JG)