Record-breaking ship arrives in Aberdeen Harbour as public consultation over Nigg Bay development plans continues
Aberdeen Harbour has welcomed the largest vessel to have docked in the city, as its latest plans for the proposed expansion at Nigg Bay continue on public display.
The MV Pacific Adventure, a general cargo and container vessel, which is 160m in length and 27m wide, now holds the record at the port with a gross tonnage of 19,128t, beating previous record holder, the diving support vessel, Skandi Arctic, by 488t. The Hartmann Project Lines vessel, under the agency of Euroline Shipping, recently arrived with a cargo of oilfield materials from Mauritania.
Aberdeen Harbour chief executive Colin Parker said: “Our ability to accommodate vessels of this size is thanks to a programme of strategic engineering work, completed in 2012, which widened and deepened the navigation channel.
It illustrates a trend towards bigger, more efficient vessels requiring access to Aberdeen and further reinforces the need for the development of a second, deeper port facility at Nigg Bay, if the North East of Scotland is to remain economically competitive.”
Plans for the proposed GBP 320million development at Nigg Bay have gone on display until October 31, at Aberdeen’s Maritime Museum, as part of an ongoing Development Framework consultation process, supported by Aberdeen City Council and Scottish Enterprise. The consultation is designed to investigate the potential benefits, opportunities or challenges that the Nigg Bay development might bring to the wider area of Altens, East Tullos and Torry.
The project, which the Harbour hopes will commence in 2017, is predicted to increase economic activity at the port to GBP 2billion per annum in 20 years and potentially create approximately 7,000 jobs.