Plans for the major re-development of a north-east port could take a step closer with the delivery of an explosives licence.
Peterhead Port Authority want to spend £47million to create the biggest whitefish port in Europe and attract even larger vessels.
Now bosses have asked the Health and Safety Executive for a new licence that will cover the use of explosives in the bay and harbour so deepening work can go ahead.
Harbour master John Forman said: “With the amalgamation of the harbour and the bay, we had two separate licences which were required to be made into one.”
The redevelopment of the harbour will involve dredging to create more deep-water berthing and the construction of a new auction hall to handle up to 8,000 boxes of fish.
The port’s chief executive, John Wallace, has previously said the investment was likely to be the biggest of its kind in the country this year.
“It will create a step-change in the handling of the fish, and there will be more room for the fishermen, but the biggest thing is that the quality of the product being landed will fetch top dollar because it’s sold the day it’s landed – guaranteed,” Mr Wallace said.
“It will underpin and retain the economic input the port gives to Peterhead and to the Scottish economy.”
It is hoped the work will be part-funded by the European and Maritime Fisheries Fund.
Local councillor Anne Allan said she was “delighted” that the plans were progressing.
“It just shows the strength of the fishing industry in the area,” she said.
“Peterhead has a fantastic facility there and these changes are going to improve on that.”