Peterhead’s deepwater quay opens on time and on budget

The £33.5m project, which includes a new 200m berth and 16,000m2 of work area, will create up to 60 full time jobs and contribute an estimated £12m a year to the local economy.

Work on Smith Embankment began 18 months ago after Peterhead Port Authority secured £5m from the Scottish government and European Fisheries Fund and has involved extensive land reclamation and dredging to achieve a water depth of 10m. The first vessel to use Smith Embankment, North Star Shipping’s offshore supply vessel Grampian Talisman, berthed on 8 October.

The Port Authority says it is confident that the new facility will not only meet the demands of the pelagic fleet and reinforce Peterhead’s position as the UK’s premier fishing port but also attract new business from the offshore and renewable energy sectors.

Smith Embankment’s 10m depth and heavy lift capabilities are also expected to attract business from the growing oil and gas decommissioning sector. Lifts of up to 500 tons are possible from the quay’s heavy lift pad, while modules of up to 2,500 tons can be skidded ashore. A high capacity electrical connection point allows vessels to connect to a 350 kVa supply and turn off their main engines, so saving on fuel costs and reducing emissions.

Smith Embankment consists of a quay and breakwater offering ample berthing capacity for one or more vessels at a time. For example, there is room for a 120m subsea support vessel and a 65m pelagic fishing boat.

Peterhead Port Authority said it believes that this latest expansion will lead to a 20% increase in turnover by the end of 2012. The authority recorded a £7.2m turnover for its last financial year ending 31 December 2009.

Authority chief executive John Wallace said completion of Smith Embankment would allow the port to strengthen ties with existing clients while also targeting new markets. He congratulated the contractors responsible for the project, Westminster Dredging and RJ McLeod, and engineers Fraenkel for their dedication and workmanship.

Apart from the features outlined above, among the key benefits offered by Smith Embankment are all weather berthing, no tidal restrictions, a secure fenced area with no public access, and fast easy transport links.