‘Port of Aberdeen’ harbour rebrand

Aberdeen Harbour Board directors hailed a new brand for the city’s historic port as new figures showed costs of its expansion have risen by £50million.

The name “Port of Aberdeen”, which comprises both the main north harbour as well as the new south harbour, was confirmed to guests at the board’s AGM in Aberdeen last night.

The group said Aberdeen harbour’s rebrand to Port of Aberdeen marks a new chapter in the port’s almost 900-year history.

The group also said the cost of the south harbour expansion project had risen from an original estimate of £350m to £400m – the result of a number of factors including a decision to return to a more ambitious plan that had been shelved during the pandemic.

In addition to the plan to deliver more quayside space, the rising costs of raw building materials and labour had added to the final price tag for the south harbour which, when complete, will make Port of Aberdeen the largestberthage port in Scotland.

But bosses insisted the group’s finances remain strong despite a fall in profits in 2021.

Company accounts for Aberdeen Harbour Board (AHB) showed a 36% slump in pre-tax profits to £9.7m driven mainly by a decrease in oil and gas traffic in a year when the sector was still largely impacted by low prices. But turnover for the year amounted to £33.5m, an increase of 1.5% compared with 2020.

Just over 6,000 vessels entered the port last year, representing a 2% decrease in arrival numbers compared with 2020.

It stated the decline in visits was a result of the “smaller tonnage classifications, particularly focused on oil and gas supply vessels”, adding that larger tonnage vessel numbers, including general goods and dive support vessels, “remained less volatile”. It expects vessels to berth at the new south harbour this summer as part of a “soft start” as it prepares for an official opening in October.

However building work will not be complete until 2023 after the board decided to revert to a previous plan which offers more quayside space.

Chairman Alistair Mackenzie said: “The progress at our south harbour expansion site has been remarkable.

“The site looks different every time I visit, which is down to the unwavering commitment from all those working on the project.”

Following the board’s latest strategic review, led by its new chief executive Bob Sanguinetti, AHB said its new vision for the next five to 10 years is to “become Scotland’s premier net-zero port, offering world-class facilities and services, at the heart of the nation’s energy transition efforts”.

It is also still pursuing a bid to be designated one of two “green freeports” in Scotland, which it said will “transform the region into a powerhouse of new trade and investment, and generate thousands of high-skilled green jobs and opportunities for those that need them most”.

Up to nine port groups submitted “notes of interest” to the Scottish Government last year when it called for greenport bids, with strong contenders having emerged in Edinburgh led by Forth Ports and a consortium bidding for the status in Cromarty Firth and Inverness. A decision is expected this summer once the bidding process concludes in June.

Mr Sanguinetti said: “We are building on our history and heritage as we enter a new era as Port of Aberdeen.

“The city is perfectly located to be Europe’s energy transition capital, and our £400m expansion project will be at the heart of the development of highpotential sectors, including offshore wind and green hydrogen.

“Green freeport status for north-east Scotland will transform the region and deliver unmatched value for Scotland.”

NEW CHAPTER: The brand ‘Port of Aberdeen’ will refer to the existing main harbour as well as the new south harbour.