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The aim of Trust Ports is to continuously improve infrastructure, facilities and service levels, to reflect the needs of its stakeholders. This requisite for continuous improvement is something that Aberdeen Harbour Board has embraced and, in recent decades has not only invested almost £200 million in improvements in the existing harbour, but has commenced construction of a £350 million facility in Nigg Bay, to the south of the existing harbour. Once Completed, this new facility will be known as Aberdeen South Harbour.
The 175 meter-long MV Beltnes arrived into Aberdeen South Harbor on the morning of Wednesday, 29th May, as part of its £350 million South Harbor construction program.
“The Self Discharging Bulk Carrier successfully discharged 35,000 tonnes of fill material behind concrete caissons, as part of the creation of the Dunnottar Quay,” according to their latest release.
The vessel will make seven return trips to South Harbor to complete the Dunnottar and Castlegate Quays.
The fill material used behind the caissons has been quarried from Norway and will provide these quays with significant heavy-lift capacity, all designed to support activity associated with the onshore and offshore energy industry.
One of the firms involved in the expansion of Aberdeen Harbour has warned the project could face delays.
The £350m expansion at Nigg will allow cruise ships to berth alongside the dock, eliminating the need to ferry passengers ashore by small boat.
In an application to Aberdeen City Council, Leiths said an increase in operating hours was necessary so the project can proceed as scheduled.
Leiths operates the Blackhills quarry on the site.
The harbour expansion is due for completion next year.
Harbour developer Dragados has increased its order from the quarry, after subsea blasting and dredging efforts failed to provide the materials needed.
Noise impact
Leiths is asking for a change from the present 07:00 to 19:00 operating hours of the quarry to 05:00 to 23:00 to meet demand.
It has also commissioned a noise assessment to gauge the potential impact on the local community.
Keith Young, engineering director at Aberdeen Harbour Board, said: "Aberdeen Harbour Board is working closely with Dragados and Leiths to ensure the South Harbour construction project remains on its scheduled programme, in the lead up to the opening in summer 2020.
"The construction of South Harbour is the largest port infrastructure project currently underway in the UK, and all contractors and suppliers involved in the project are working to ensure the harbour opens on time."
The harbour board has described the project as a "major new chapter" in the port's history.
Aberdeen Harbor has just announced that progress is continuing apace at South Harbor, with 120,000 tonnes of infill material behind the caissons on Dunnottar Quay creating the first operational quay.
The fill material used behind the caissons has been quarried from Norway, and will provide these quays with significant heavy-lift capacity, supporting activity associated with the onshore and offshore energy industry.
According to the latest update on the works, the North Breakwater has reached its completed length and over the summer, work will take place on the Crown Wall, which will run along the length of the breakwater to give added protection to the quayside.
To date, 240,000m³ of material has been laid below the water’s surface for the South Breakwater to a length of 600 meters. Before long, this structure will be visible.
When full finished the Dunnottar Quay is to be the 400 meter long east quay with Crathes Quay to be the 175 meter long south quay. Balmoral Quay, the west quay, will be 300 meters long and Castlegate Quay, the north quay, will be 540 meters long.
The £350 million project is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2020.
The Aberdeen Harbor Expansion Project has reached another important landmark, with the placement of the 11th caisson at Nigg Bay, out of a total of 22.
This 7,000-tonnes caisson, which bears the name Catrina, is part of Aberdeen South Harbor’s Dunnottar Quay.
“It has been towed on site on a two-day journey from the Cromarty Firth. Once this floating structure was correctly positioned, its empty chambers were filled with water in order to sink it into its permanent position,” Dragados SA UK & Ireland, the principal contractor for the Aberdeen Harbor Expansion Project, said in its latest announcement.
The final caissons will soon be transported from La Coruna in Spain to Scotland, where they will be floated into position as needed.
Construction on Aberdeen Harbor Board’s £350 million South Harbor is now progressing according to schedule. This follows six years of unprecedented public engagement by the Board and Executive Team across the widest range of stakeholders.
The pre-construction feasibility study also included a large-scale Environmental Impact Assessment, an integrated investigation into funding streams, and the creation of a Development Framework, which considered the opportunities presented by the potential investment in the new harbor for the wider Nigg, East Tullos and Altens area.
Three high level planning applications were also secured: a Harbor Revision Order from Transport Scotland, Marine Licenses from Marine Scotland and for Planning Permission in Principle from Aberdeen City Council.
