The arrival of two giant subsea structures in the Cromarty Firth was hailed as the start of an offshore windfarm boom in the Highlands.
Growth in the sector is expected provide hundreds of new jobs in the area and give the local economy a massive boost.
The Port of Cromarty Firth announced yesterday that its deep water engineering facility at Invergordon service base had been chosen for the next phase of one of the world’s largest offshore windfarms.
And there is now the prospect of some of the work on the 180 huge turbines being done in the Highlands.
The Chinese heavy lift vessel Xia Zhi Yuan 6 arrived n the firth from Cartagena in Spain carrying two massive “concrete blocks” known as caissons.
They were floated off to Invergordon where they will be fitted out.
The structures will than be pinned to the sea bed as foundations for offshore weather stations, known as met masts, one for the Moray offshore windfarm and one for Inch Cape off Edinburgh.
The latest development was welcomed last night by local politicians.
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie McGrigor said: “This is an exciting development for the Invergordon site and good news for the Highlands.
“Hopefully, it will bring much needed employment to the area.”
And local authority vice-convener Councillor Maxine Smith said it would be “fantastic news” if the arrival of the structures marked the start of an offshore windfarm boom in the area.
Councillor Smith, who represents Cromarty Firth, said: “It has been long awaited here in Invergordon and Nigg.
“A lot of private and public investment has gone into it so it’s time we started seeing a return.”
The Port of Cromarty Firth said it had been selected because of its proximity to the Moray windfarm and was capable of providing both a sheltered, deep water berth and onshore supply chain service for the project.
Bob Buskie, chief executive of Invergordon Port Authority, said: “Talks began last year, with the unique suitability of Invergordon service base quickly being singled out from other competitors as the key port facility with all the right components to manage this project.
“Having been involved with the initial test turbines that were established in the Beatrice offshore windfarm in 2010, it was a natural progression that the port as a whole, and Invergordon service base in particular, would be a strong contender for this next phase.”
EDPR, the company behind the Moray offshore windfarm, signed a memorandum of understanding with Global Energy Group, which has bases at Nigg and Invergordon, in the spring.
Tom LoTurco, EDPR’s deputy project director for Moray Offshore Renewables, said peak employment during construction was projected to be up to 2,400 jobs.
He said: “During the operational lifetime of the project, up to 330 Scottish jobs will be supported by operation and maintenance activities.”
The caissons will be fixed to the seabed with a large steel monopole, and a 300ft tall steel lattice tower will be installed for the weather equipment. The lattice towers were fabricated by Global Energy at Nigg.
Mr LoTurco said: “This, together with bringing the caissons here, is the evidence that we want to make a commitment to putting our flag in the area.
“To reach the project’s conclusion, there will be further potential as up to 180 turbine structures will ultimately be deployed in the Moray Firth.”
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