Multi-million pound investment announced for Kishorn Port

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will invest £24.259m at Kishorn Port in the west Highlands to enhance its capacity and capabilities, with an expanded dry dock and land reclamation enabling the manufacture of floating offshore wind foundations.

The expanded facilities are forecast to attract projects with the potential to support up to 1,500 jobs once the port is fully developed.

The investment forms part a Scottish Government commitment of up to £500 million over five years to develop the country’s ports and offshore wind supply chain. The funding will help ensure businesses and communities secure maximum benefit from the country’s growing renewables capabilities.

As a strategic location for offshore wind components marshalling and manufacturing, Kishorn Port will play a crucial role in supporting current offshore wind developments and is well positioned to capitalise on future opportunities extending beyond Scotland.

The port houses one of the largest openings of any dry dock facility in Europe, making it a unique and valuable asset.

Announcing the award ahead of making an investment-focused speech today at Panmure House in Edinburgh, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:

“This is one of the most significant public investments in our port infrastructure in decades. It is crucial to ensuring Kishorn Port and the communities it supports can reap the benefits of the global renewables market.

“It is a clear signal from the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise that will give investors the confidence to invest millions more in the area’s wider infrastructure, economy and people.”

HIE chief executive Stuart Black said:

“Offshore wind presents a massive opportunity for the Highlands and Islands and Kishorn is one of several ports that are at the heart of this. The facility has provided skilled jobs in a rural area for many decades and this is likely to grow significantly, which is vital to community resilience in a priority west coast location. 

“The proposed dry dock expansion and land reclamation will greatly enhance the port’s capacity to support offshore wind and the contribution it makes to Scotland’s economy. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure this significant additional funding for the region and look forward to continuing to work with Kishorn Port Ltd as the project develops.”

Kishorn Port Limited (KPL) Director Alasdair Ferguson said:

“This is a significant milestone in the continuing development of Kishorn Port. The port expansion will provide the catalyst for the support and creation of jobs within Wester Ross and the wider Highlands, benefiting communities across the area. We’re grateful to Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Government for their support.

“With the quarry on site, Kishorn Port is ideally suited to concrete manufacturing of floating offshore wind sub-structures, with local content, laydown, marshalling, and long-term integration and assembly possible at the port as part of the wider project in the long-term.”

Tasgadh ioma-mhillean not air ainmeachadh airson Port Chiseorn

Tha inbheisteadh de ioma-mhillean not ga dhèanamh ann an aon de na puirt as cudromaiche gu ro-innleachdail ann an Alba.

Cuiridh Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE) £24.259m ri Port Chiseorn air taobh siar na Gàidhealtachd gus a ghabhaltachd agus a chomasachdan a neartachadh, le leudachadh air doca tioram agus ath-bhuannachd talmhainn a chomasaicheas gnìomhachas-saothrachaidh bhunacharan gaoithe air fleod far-tìre.

Thathar a’ sùileachadh gun tarraing na goireasan leudaichte seo pròiseactan le comas air taic a chur ri faisg air 1,500 obair aon uair ’s gum bi am port air a làn leasachadh.

Tha an inbheisteadh seo a’ dèanamh suas pàirt de ghealltanas bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba de £500 millean thar chòig bliadhna gus puirt na dùthcha agus sèine solair gaoithe far-tìre a leasachadh. Cuidichidh am maoineachadh le dèanamh cinnteach gum faigh gnothachasan agus coimhearsnachdan a’ bhuannachd as àirde bho chomasachdan ath-nuadhachail fàsmhor na dùthcha.

Mar làrach ro-innleachdail airson marasgladh agus saothrachadh air co-phàirtean gaoithe far-tìre, bidh àite deatamach aig Port Chiseorn ann an cur taic ri leasachaidhean làithreach gaoithe far-tìre agus e ann an deagh shuidheachadh airson calpachadh air cothroman fada seachad air crìochan na h-Alba, san àm ri teachd.

Tha am port na dhachaigh do dh’aon de na fosglaidhean as motha ann an goireas doca tioram sam bith san Roinn Eòrpa, ga dhèanamh na mhaoin luachmhor agus gun choimeas.

Ag ainmeachadh na duaise an-diugh ann an Taigh Pann Moire ann an Dùn Èideann mus do lìbhrig i òraid cuimsichte air inbheisteadh, thuirt Ceit Fhoirbeis, an Leas-Chiad Mhinistear:   

“Is e seo aon de na tasgaidhean poblach as cudromaiche nar bun-structar phuirt o chionn deicheadan de bhliadhnaichean. Tha e deatamach airson dèanamh cinnteach gun urrainn do Phort Chiseorn agus na coimhearsnachdan ris a bheil e a’ cur taic, buannachdan fhaotainn bho mhargaid chruinneil nan stòrasan ath-nuadhachail.

“Tha e na chomharra soilleir bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean a bheir misneachd do luchd-seilbheachd na milleanan a bharrachd a thasgadh ann am bun-structar farsaing, eaconamaidh agus muinntir na sgìre.”

Thuirt Stiùbhart MacIlleDhuibh, Àrd-Oifigear HIE:

“Tha gaoth far-tìre a’ toirt seachad cothrom a tha àibheiseach don Ghàidhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan agus is e Ciseorn aon de ghrunn phuirt a tha aig cridhe na h-iomairt seo. Tha an goireas air obraichean sgileil a sholarachadh ann an sgìre dhùthchail airson mòran bhliadhnaichean, agus tha coltas gum fàs seo gu ìre chudromach, a tha riatanach do fhulangas coimhearsnachd ann an àite prìomhachais air a’ chosta an iar.

“Bheir an leudachadh air doca tioram agus an ath-bhuannachd talmhainn a tha san amharc, àrdachadh mòr air comas a’ phuirt air taic a chur ri gaoth far-tìre agus ris na tha e a’ cur ri eaconamaidh na h-Alba. Tha mi air leth toilichte gun robh e comasach dhuinn am maoineachadh cudromach a bharrachd seo fhaotainn airson na roinne agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri leantainn ag obair le Port Chiseorn Earranta, mar a bhios am pròiseact a’ leasachadh.”

Thuirt Alasdair Fearghasdan, Port Chiseorn Earranta (KPL):

“Is e clach-mhìle chudromach a tha seo anns an leasachadh leantainneach air Port Chiseorn.  Bheir an leudachach air a’ phort seachad brosnachadh airson taic agus obraichean a chruthachadh taobh a-staigh Taobh Siar Rois agus na Gàidhealtachd fharsaing, a’ tarraing buannachd gu coimhearsnachdan air feadh na sgìre. Tha sinn taingeil do dh’Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean agus Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson an cuid taic.

“Leis a’ chuaraidh air an làraich, tha Port Chiseorn foirfe airson saothrachadh concrait do fho-structaran gaoithe far-tìre, le susbaint ionadail, cur-sìos, marasgladh, in-fhilleadh fad-amail agus cruinneachadh comasach aig a’ phort mar phàirt den phròiseact fharsaing san fhad-ama.”