Work is underway on the latest developments towards making Montrose Port a key hub in Scotland’s controversial and budget-exploding renewable energy sector.
Early works have started on the sites for berths 9, 10 and 11, extending the port’s capacity by 30 per cent, following a match-funding agreement with Scottish Enterprise.
The economic development agency approved £1.7 million ($2.3 million) towards the studies and investigation works, which will lead to the creation of 20 hectares of manufacturing land at Montrose Port Industrial Park (MPIP) to the north of the town and the three additional quaysides.
This will unlock infrastructure investment in the order of £115 million to further develop the port.
“The expansion of Montrose Port is hugely important to providing new infrastructure and space to support the continued growth of the offshore wind sector," said Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie.
The berths form part of a bigger overall project by the port, including work to turn part of nearby Customs House into a "skills academy" for the renewables industry and the expansion site purchased with grant funding announced by Scottish Enterprise earlier in the year.