Maraen Port of Nigg has awarded the construction contract for its Eastern Inner Dock Quay to McLaughlin & Harvey, opening a new phase of infrastructure development at the UK energy port.
The Eastern Inner Dock Quay represents an investment of more than £30 million and will deliver a heavy-duty quay covering approximately 16,000 m². The project will add roll-on/roll-off capability and increase quayside capacity, with construction preparations now started on site.
The development is supported by a £10 million grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The funding forms part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to invest up to £500 million over five years to strengthen Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain.
McLaughlin & Harvey has previously worked at Port of Nigg, reconstructing the South Quay between 2014 and 2015. That project included a 370 m combi-pile quay wall and a 130 m x 40 m West Finger Quay.
The new quay will serve as a dedicated load-out and export facility for high-voltage cables manufactured at the adjacent Sumitomo Electric HVDC cable facility. It will provide a direct port-side connection between production and deployment.
The project is also expected to increase the port’s ability to conduct complex, simultaneous operations. Maraen Port of Nigg said the investment will expand deep-water quay availability and provide current and future customers with additional load-in and load-out options.
With deepwater berths, Green Freeport Tax site and Customs site status, and a record of supporting the deployment of more than 4 GW of offshore wind capacity, Maraen Port of Nigg is positioning the Eastern Inner Dock Quay as part of its continuing energy port infrastructure program.