Aberdeen Harbour has welcomed the longest ever vessel to visit the port in its near 900-year history.
The 176 metre MV Beltnes arrived on Wednesday morning – the same length as the South Harbour’s Crathes Quay – to work on the £350m expansion of the port.
The bulk carrier discharged 35,000 tonnes of fill material behind concrete “caissons” as part of creation of the Dunnottar Quay.
It is one of seven return trips it will make from Norway in order to complete the Dunnottar and Castlegate Quays.
The fill material will provide the quays with heavy-lift capacity to support activity in the onshore and offshore energy industry.
MV Beltnes is the longest ship to enter the harbour since it was first established as a business in 1136.
Chief executive Michelle Handforth said: “The arrival of the MV Beltnes is a real tipping point for Aberdeen Harbour, and a prime example of why we need the South Harbour expansion: even in its construction phase, we can bring in a vessel which could not fit into the North Harbour.
“To put the size of the vessel into context, it is the same length as Crathes Quay, our shortest quay in South Harbour.
“I would like to thank our Marine and Engineering Departments who ensured the MV Beltnes could arrive safely into the Harbour.
“Our critical path elements associated with the construction project are on time, and we have a summer of intense activity ahead of us, as the footprint of South Harbour continues to emerge from the sea.”