A new report has highlighted Scrabster harbour’s positive economic impact on the Caithness and Scottish economy.
Scrabster Harbour Trust (SHT) has multimillion-pound plans to expand the port’s facilities over the coming years.
The independent economic impact assessment report found it generates £25million gross value added (GVA) annually for Caithness and supports 403 jobs.
Grangeston Economics’ figures represent an increase from 339 jobs at the time of the last economic impact assessment in 2009.
GVA – a widely used measure of economic contribution – has also grown, from £14.6million – a 70% increase.
The report found the wages and salaries arising from the activities of the harbour has risen to £10.3million, from £6.2million previously.
The total economic output of the harbour is now measured at £48million, compared to £39million in 2009.
It comes as SHT looks to redevelop the St Ola Quay to create further deep-water harbour infrastructure at an estimated cost of £15million. The trust is also exploring options to create additional laydown at the port.
Scrabster harbour has already benefited from significant investment in infrastructure, with more than £35million invested in port infrastructure over the past 25 years.
In 2013, SHT invested £18million into the renovation of the old fish market pier to transform it into the new Jubilee Quay to position the port as an attractive facility for the oil & gas and renewable-energy sectors.
Scrabster is the UK’s fourth largest landing port for fish and has recently added a new ice plant to expand facilities for fishing vessels. It has a growing oil and gas and renewables base, supports lifeline ferry services and is seeing an increasing number of cruise ship visitors.
Port manager Sandy Mackie said: “This report underlines that Scrabster harbour plays a key role in the Caithness and Scottish economy. Scrabster harbour and Caithness can continue to be central to Scotland’s fishing, oil & gas and renewables sectors and there are a number of exciting plans … going forward.”
Recommended for you
