Aberdeen harbour bosses said yesterday it had recorded significant increases in traffic in the first six months of the year.
Continued growth in the oil and gas sector was reflected in the increase in support vessels that used the port from January to June; up 9% to 2,814 from 2,580 in the same period in 2011.
Meanwhile, overall vessel numbers rose by 5% to nearly 4,000 while shipping tonnage increased by almost 9% to 13.3million tonnes.
Exported goods, including oil and gas-related equipment, scrap metal, salmon feed and timber logs, also increased by more than 8% to 1.37million tonnes during the first six months of 2012.
Imported cargoes increased slightly by 0.3% to 1.07million tonnes.
The figures come just weeks after work started on a £5.2million programme of improvements, including widening and deepening of the navigation channel.
Harbour board chief executive Colin Parker said: “These are particularly strong results which once again highlight Aberdeen harbour’s contribution to both the regional and national economy, and the vital role it holds within the energy industry.
“We . . . are equally proud of the role Aberdeen harbour has played in handling the growth in exports generated by the local industries. We are conscious of the need to maintain and improve upon the high standards port users expect and our continuing investment will allow the harbour to keep ahead of the game to benefit our . . . customers while allowing us to service emerging markets such as decommissioning and offshore wind-turbine deployment.
“The large increases in harbour traffic reflect the upsurge in North Sea activity, where exploration continues at pace with significant numbers of support vessels required to service those endeavours. This activity is anticipated to continue creating major economic benefits and opportunities for those involved in the energy sector. As such, continued investment in our facilities is vital to ensure that we are best placed to support the current and future needs of the industry.”
Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart said: “These figures are excellent news for the city, the region and for Scotland as a whole, at a time when the North Sea is a major focus for investment and for ongoing activity. The harbour continues to thrive and has been a vital to the north-east since the city itself was in its infancy.”