Port of Leith invests in Scotland’s offshore wind boom – Riviera Maritime Media

The investment will bring to the market an additional 25 hectares of land linked to more than 3 km of deep water quaysides. The investment will also see the skyline of the port changed, with the final stages of the demolition of the Imperial Grain Silo being completed.

Forth Ports said the port has seen an unprecedented surge in activity over the past few years with the energy transition to low carbon becoming a strong influence in the future of Scotland and Leith.

The port has responded to project needs ranging from utilising the deep water for the storage of jacket foundations to project work associated with the subsea elements of the development of offshore windfarms.

Shipping and onshore economic activity has been boosted at Scotlands capital port this year with its key role in supporting EDF Renewables and ESBs major offshore wind farm Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) at various stages of the project.

This project will supply enough low carbon electricity for around 375,000 homes and has a capacity of circa 450 MW.

Commenting on the investment and plans, Forth Ports senior port manager David Webster said, This investment is another example of our commitment to bring large-scale renewables to Scotland.

This will allow Leith to build on its current success as well as complement the significant upgrades that are underway in our Dundee facility. The foundation logistics in Leith will be supported by the wind turbine hub in Dundee, we see this as the future to local content in Scotland that will drive employment.

NnG project director Matthias Haag said, Its really exciting to see the Port of Leith making such a huge investment in offshore renewables, especially as it will play a key role in the successful delivery of NnG.

Since offshore construction of NnG started in August, Port of Leith has become the marine logistics base for the pile casings that will form part of the foundations on which the projects 54 turbines and two substations will stand. We have always said were committed to using the Scottish supply chain as much as possible and were really pleased to be working with the Port of Leith.

Deputy port manager Kenny Williamson said, I have been working at Port of Leith for 37 years and have never seen so many vessels in port with so much activity going on.

This is an exciting time for Leith and Edinburgh as we adapt, upgrade and regenerate the port to create opportunities in Scotlands emerging industries. We have been successful in winning a number of contracts this year, along with our partners.

Leith is the largest port on the east coast of Scotland and has extensive deepwater non-tidal berths connected to more than 140 hectares of land.

Read the rest here:

Port of Leith invests in Scotland's offshore wind boom - Riviera Maritime Media