Aberdeen Harbour

The Opportunities Port

Aberdeen Harbour - A world class port continues to provide new opportunities through the redevelopment of the infrastructure and the introduction of new services.

With the shipments achieving record levels, the world class port handles over 4.5 million tonnes or cargo annually, worth more than £1.5 billion. Its ability to accommodate the larger vessels now operating has seen the tonnage of shipping reach record levels in six successive years.

With around £150 million invested in by the Harbour Board in recent decades, and a five-year budget of around £36 million to 2009 for further development and maintenance, the evolution of the port is ongoing to meet the changing requirements of existing users and new activity. It is a long-term, proactive strategy, delivering the capacity for expansion and diversification.

Significant developments of recent years have included the multi-purpose Matthews Quay, which includes the port’s third roll-on/roll-off terminal, and the creation of a new service base at Albert Quay for BP Exploration - the largest single oilfield operator to move into the port since the early day of the industry in the 1960s.

The reconstruction of the Albert Quay West provides two additional deep-water berths from 2006, bringing the total to 19, with a new, state-of-the-art Marine Operations Centre in use in the same year.

The versatile of facilities and diversity of traffic are key features of the harbour which is both a regional resource and a global gateway serving a wide range of Scottish Industries.

An aerial view of Aberdeen harbour on a clear day.

 

 

 

 

 

Aberdeen Harbour is:

  • The centre of activity for offshore oil and gas industry marine support in North West Europe and a marshalling point for oilfield exports.
  • Principle commercial port for North East Scotland.
  • An international port.
  • Principle mainland port for passenger, freight and livestock services to Orkney and Shetland.
  • A centre for the import of forest products and the export of finished paper products.
  • A gateway for agricultural industries.
  • An important fishing port.
  • A port-of-call for cruise ships.

The harbour has direct links with around 30 countries, principally in Europe, West Africa, and North America while trans-shipment at Continental ports provides connections with other countries, as do ad hoc shipments.

While continuing to maximise the potential of the port’s assets and current services, the forward-looking Harbour actively pursue new opportunities, including participating in initiatives seeking to generate gains from the greater integration of North Sea/North Atlantic short sea and coastal service and of sea-rail traffic onshore.

For further information visit the Aberdeen Harbour - A world class port web site.