Seabed testing has begun at the Port of Cromarty Firth (PoCF) as bosses prepare for a major expansion of the port’s capacity.
The proposed Phase 5 development at the Port would see a £150m investment to ensure the Firth becomes a key hub for manufacturing and assembly work for the offshore wind industry.
A jack-up barge has now arrived at Invergordon and will be used to test and sample areas earmarked for the development. Work will be carried out from this month and could continue into May if needed.
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The testing is part of a range of pre-construction studies being carried out as port officials prepare to apply for the necessary licences for the project, which would almost double its existing capacity.
PoCF chief executive, Bob Buskie, said: “Our area is going to play a key role in the rapid development of fixed and floating offshore wind and other sectors, such as green hydrogen, and is set to benefit hugely from the recent decision to establish a Green Freeport centred on Inverness and the Cromarty Firth.
“Our planned Phase 5 expansion is intended to help ensure we can position the Firth as the go-to hub for the offshore renewables sector, securing a long-term pipeline of projects and creating new jobs here.
“The works currently getting under way are required to test and sample the areas for this potential development and ascertain the ground conditions beneath the seabed. This will allow the piles, dredging, revetments and land reclamation to be suitably designed.”
In January, Inverness and Cromarty Firth and the Firth of Forth were jointly selected by the Scottish and UK governments to become Scotland’s first green freeports.
