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Archive (04.11.05)

ABERDEEN HARBOUR'S NEW MARINE OPERATIONS CENTRE ON COURSE

Laying the final concrete - Harbour Board Chairman, David Paton (left),
with Andrew McAlpine, a Director and Partner in Sir Robert McAlpine.

A topping out ceremony at Aberdeen Harbour today (Friday 4 November) marked a milestone in the development of a new Marine Operations Centre which will control vessel movements at the busy port.

The £4.5 million project by Aberdeen Harbour Board to provide state-of-the-art facilities is on schedule for completion in early Spring when the building will succeed the nearby Navigation Control Centre - "The Roundhouse", a familiar sight at the harbour entrance since 1803.

The main contractor for the new Centre is Sir Robert McAlpine, working to a design by the Parr Partnership which reflects a traditional Scottish lighthouse supporting a modern glass structure.

McAlpine's trademark piper led guests into the traditional topping out ceremony which can be traced back to Roman times. Harbour Board Chairman, David Paton, spread the final pour of concrete and an evergreen bough was fixed to the building to bring good luck.

Mr Paton said: "The Centre will be an outstanding symbol of a modern and successful port and will be a landmark building - not only for the harbour, but also for the city.

"It is also another demonstration that the Harbour Board are forward thinking and confident in the port's future in serving a wide range of industries. The state-of-the art Centre will bring further improvements to the operation of the already highly efficient port."

Andrew McAlpine, a Director and Partner in the company, presented Mr Paton and McAlpine's Works' Manager for the project, Ian Leslie, with engraved tankards.

The Centre will accommodate the latest vessel traffic management equipment and the port's ship's bridge training simulator. It will also bring improved efficiency through the integration of marine operations at one location.

Aberdeen Harbour handles over 8,000 ships annually, with the total number of vessel movements - arrivals, in port and departures - reaching more than 25,000 a year.

4 November 2005