First Minister opens new facility at Port of Peterhead

The Smith Embankment took 18 months to construct and was built in order to allow Peterhead Port Authority (PPA), which is responsible for managing and developing the port, to attract new business and target previously untapped markets.

The embankment development, which received a £5.25m grant from the Scottish Government and European Fisheries Fund, incorporates a 200m berth, breakwater, dredging and land reclamation works.

The facility will create up to 60 full time job opportunities and it is estimated that the berth will contribute around £12m to the local economy each year.

Boasting an adjacent working area of 16,000m2 and a water depth of 10m, the embankment has significantly expanded the range of projects that can be completed and handled on site.

For example, the deepwater berth is ideal for the subsea industry as it can accommodate the new generation of larger diving support vessels that are now coming on stream.

Also, the vast adjacent working area provides companies operating within the offshore wind sector with the capacity to assemble or manufacture components for wind and wave devices.

Whilst the facility will play a key role in attracting fresh sectors, it will also provide much needed space and discharging berths for the pelagic fishing industry, which in turn will help cement Peterhead’s position as the UK’s premier fishing port.