Civil engineering firm RJ McLeod has been selected to carry out pre-construction work for the £111 million Phase 5 expansion of the Port of Cromarty Firth, aimed at supporting Scotland’s offshore wind ambitions.
Under a £1.5 million contract, the Glasgow-based contractor will undertake detailed design work, prepare a construction programme, and plan procurement of essential materials. The work is scheduled to be completed this summer, with main construction expected to begin in the autumn.
The expansion will enlarge the existing 9-hectare Quay West facility and provide infrastructure tailored for the integration, pre-commissioning, and operational support of floating offshore wind turbines in the North Sea.
“The port is delighted to award the pre-construction contract to Scottish company RJ McLeod,” said Port of Cromarty Firth chief executive Alex Campbell. “The award recognises the company’s long and successful track record in delivering projects of huge significance to the area in which they are built.”
The selection was made through SCAPE Scotland’s Utilities Works and Services Framework. The expansion project follows the UK Government’s award of £55.7 million in funding through the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS), a move that paves the way for further private sector investment.
The construction phase is projected to generate between 170 and 320 jobs locally, with the port aiming to establish itself as a strategic hub for floating offshore wind deployment.
Hamish Seaton, north director at RJ McLeod, said the project will “provide a boost to the local economy, not only in terms of employment with a local Highland contractor, but also in terms of the extensive and valuable local supply chain of goods and services.”
UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks welcomed the progress, stating: “Our £55m investment in Cromarty Firth will help it develop into one of the first UK ports able to deploy floating offshore wind turbines at scale.”
