Archive ( 02.11.06 )
ABERDEEN HARBOUR'S RECORD NINE MONTHS
Hub role in exporting oilfield equipment a significant factor.
The continuing increase in shipping and cargo at Aberdeen Harbour in the first nine months of 2006 delivered more record-breaking activity at the port where the expansion of facilities continues.
Between January and September, it handled a new high of 3.83 million tonnes of cargo, 300,000 tonnes ahead of the same period in 2005 and more than 1 million tonnes up on the first nine months in 2003.
With 6,422 vessels using the harbour (Jan-Sept 2005 - 6,289) and the trend to larger ships, the volume of shipping rose again, to 17.67 million gross tonnes (Jan-Sept 2005 - 16.02 million gross tonnes), an increase of around 3.5 million gross tonnes on the same period three years ago.
Aberdeen Harbour Board Chief Executive, Colin Parker, said: "The first nine-months have seen a continuing strong performance across most sectors."
"The marked increase in cargo and shipping handled in recent years reflects not only the high level of activity in established areas, but also new traffic, including the growing role as a hub port for shipments of oilfield equipment from Northern Europe to destinations such as West Africa."
"Following investment of more than £150 million by the Harbour Board over several decades in creating a modern port handling record traffic, current and future projects will ensure that there is capacity for further growth."
The port has also made a busy start to the fourth quarter of the year, with the 775 vessel arrivals adding up to a record monthly tonnage of shipping, at 2.23 million gross tonnes, around 100,000 gross tonnes up on the previous highest monthly figure.
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