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A record-busting year for Scrabster harbour

Scrabster harbour
Scrabster harbour

A strong year for oil and gas business despite the industry’s downturn globally helped Scrabster harbour to a record-breaking 2015, bosses said yesterday.

Scrabster Harbour Trust (SHT) reported revenue of £2.8million, up from just over £2.4million the year before, after an increase in the tonnage of vessels linked to oil and gas and renewable-energy activity.

SHT said this part of the overall business saw vessel tonnage reach 487,368 tonnes, an increase of 29% on the previous year despite the “significant challenges and cost cutting programmes facing the industry”.

Scrabster is the closest UK mainland port for oil and gas activity west of Shetland and many installations in the northern North Sea.

The port, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2016, is benefiting from more than £20million of investment in its facilities over the past five years.

It was used by 2,167 vessels last year, in line with 2014, but due to the increase in offshore-related activity total vessel tonnage grew by 2% to 8.3million tonnes.

SHT’s diversification strategy delivered a 1million-plus tonnage total for other vessel types for the first time in 2015.

But the fishing and ferry sectors continue to be the largest areas of business for the Caithness port.

Passenger numbers on the roll on/roll off ferry service between Scrabster and Stromness grew by 4% last year, to 125,400. Cruise ship passengers were up by 45%, to 3,247.

A total of 262,634 boxes of fish were landed at the port, a decrease of 14.6%.

General cargo operations decreased, which SHT said reflected an absence of timber transportation due to a strong pound affecting continental markets. Energy related cargoes, fish cargo imports and tanker deliveries all increased, the trust said.

Trust manager Sandy Mackie added: “The last year has been encouraging, seeing an increase in harbour traffic and a rise in revenue.

“It is particularly promising that the statistics reveal our drive to diversify the sectors using the harbour is resulting in increased activity and that our enhanced facilities and capacity is being utilised.

“At a time when oil and gas leaders are embarking on efficiency drives, Scrabster harbour is proving to be an attractive and cost-effective solution.”