Princess Royal unveils £420M Aberdeen Port expansion

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opened Port of Aberdeen’s transformational £420 million expansion project on September 22, catalysing a multi-billion pound economic and jobs boost for Scotland.

More than 250 stakeholders attended the opening event on Dunnottar Quay. The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque and ‘Octopode Accropode’ structure which was specially designed and painted by local street artist, Craig Fisher.

The new harbour has generated more than £3 million of revenue during its phased opening and is attracting vessels and projects that would have previously sailed past the city, often destined for a European port.

With Aberdeen South Harbour complete, Port of Aberdeen is the largest berthage port in Scotland.

The new facility, next to the Energy Transition Zone, can accommodate vessels up to 300m in length, with port users and customer benefiting from an additional 1.5km of deepwater berths, to a maximum depth of 15m, 125,000sqm of flexible project areas and significant heavy lift capacity.

The expanded port is a recognised development under the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 4.

The expansion project was significantly self-funded by the port with valuable support from the European Investment Bank, Scottish National Investment Bank, Scottish Enterprise, and Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council through the Aberdeen City Region Deal.