Archive ( 31.05.05 )
INCREASING OIL-RELATED TRAFFIC AT ABERDEEN HARBOUR
Aberdeen Harbour handled its highest number of oil-related vessels for more than a decade last year, with the tonnage of shipping reaching record levels and both statistics demonstrating the port's capacity to accommodate increasing traffic.
The wide range of ships serving the offshore industry added up to 5,002 vessels berthing at the port in 2004, more than 650 up on 2003 and the highest figure since 1993, when there were 5,078 oil-related vessel arrivals.
With an increase of more than 2 million gross tonnes on 2003, the offshore industry accounted for a record 12.9 million gross tonnes of shipping in 2004 which saw the overall tonnage of shipping set a record for the sixth year in succession at 21.1 million gross tonnes. Total vessel arrivals were also up, at more than 8,300.
Harbour Board Chief Executive, Barclay Braithwaite, said: "The statistics for 2004 are significant for a number of reasons, not least in that they prove that the redevelopment programme has successfully given the port the capacity to handle record tonnages of cargo and shipping and increasing arrivals, reinforcing its position as the centre of activity.
"It must be remembered that recent years have also seen the port handle expansion of general and specialist cargo, container, agricultural and passenger traffic. Total cargo at the port last year was a record at 4.7 million tonnes."
The Board have invested more than £130 million in recent decades in development and maintenance of the port, with the series of projects including reconstruction to create 14 deep-water berths. The current five-year budget of £36 million includes reconstructing Albert Quay West to provide two further multi-user deep-water berths at a cost of £4.5 million.
The 21st century has seen port attract new generation oil companies, as well as BP Exploration which now has a major base at Albert Quay.
"The availability of deep-water berths and additional capacity is particularly important in the continuing development of the port's role in the offshore industry and one of the keys to the future," said Mr Braithwaite. "The traffic trends are all the more remarkable in that this month marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of the first oil base at the port by an industry which will still be part of the harbour's operations for many years to come."
The base opened by Shell at Torry in May, 1965, was the first in a series by various operators, specialist companies and the Harbour Board.
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