Dredging vessels and tugs have been launched this week ahead of the £25m Port of Cromarty Firth expansion at Invergordon.
The expansion project will see the Port of Cromarty Firth reclaim nine acres of land from the sea and create an additional deep water berth. Dredging will start at the west of the existing Queens Dock, and over the next month 21,000 cubic metres of silt and mud will be removed.
CEO for the Port of Cromarty Firth, Bob Buskie , said: “ This is a crucial step in ensuring the expansion project remains on target. All dredging activity in the Cromarty Firth must halt between the months of May – September, to protect the species of dolphins, seals and porpoise that are at home in these waters.”
“We’ve employed independent environmental consultants Affric Ltd to work with us for the duration of the construction works, to ensure that there is minimal disruption to the local community and to ensure we meet our environmental responsibilities. The expansion project is essential to ensure that the Port of Cromarty Firth and the Invergordon Service Base can continue to compete in an increasingly competitive and international market. This is good news for the communities who make their living directly and indirectly from port activities.”
The Port of Cromarty Firth will hold public meetings on the 22nd April, 5-7pm at the Invergordon Arts Centre and Thursday 24th April, 4-7pm, at Resolis Memorial Hall, where local residents are invited to find out more about this project.
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Press Release, April 11, 2014