Anchors away

It is no surprise that the beauty and attraction of Scotland’s capital city is a magnet for tourists from around the world. What is surprising is that Edinburgh has been recognised as one of Europe’s best cruise destinations, given the third-rate facilities available to the growing cruise market.

Currently Leith only has capacity for very small cruise ships with Rosyth in Fife as the next nearest port. The majority of the 100 or so cruise ships visiting Edinburgh in 2018 will anchor in the Forth off Newhaven or South Queensferry and transport passengers ashore in tender boats. Not exactly a dream start for visitors desperate to see Scotland’s capital city.

The potential for Edinburgh expanding its cruise ship visitor market lies a short ten miles from the city centre on the former power station site at Cockenzie.

The Prestonpans Community Council has produced a strategy paper which outlines the case for a port at Prestonpans and Dr Alfred Baird, formerly Professor of Maritime Business at Napier University, has concluded that a well-designed cruise ship pier could be constructed on

the former power station site at relatively low cost. Dr Baird has been involved with the construction of cruise piers around the world and was the driving force behind the development of cruise facilities in Orkney which is now the busiest cruise port in Scotland.

The number of cruise ships coming to Edinburgh is a “drop in the ocean” in comparison to the numbers visiting other northern European capitals and until the Scottish Government and our tourist industry wake up to the potential of a cruise and ferry port at Cockenzie the vast majority of cruise ships will continue to sail on by.

BRIAN WEDDELL Chairperson, Prestonpans

Community Council