Work to start on £49m deep water terminal

A £49 million construction contract has been signed for a new deep water terminal that promises to boost the economy of the Outer Hebrides.

Stornoway Port Authority has awarded the contract for its ‘transformational’ terminal to building and civil engineering firm McLaughlin and Harvey.

Work is expected to start in the coming weeks and be completed before the end of next year. The terminal will provide modern facilities for a variety of sectors, including the energy and transport industries, and its design will enable it to be adapted for a wide range of future uses.

As well as being able to accommodate on and offshore wind farm vessels and support other energy sector activity, its main berth will be suitable for the largest cruise liners, which will help boost the islands’ important tourism industry.

Development of the terminal will also increase the capabilities and flexibility of the Arnish fabrication yard at Stornoway.

Stornoway Port Authority chairman Murdo Murray said the signing of the contract signalled the imminent start of ‘an historic project which has the potential to truly transform the economy of the Outer Hebrides’.