27.03.07
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR AT ABERDEEN HARBOUR UNDERPINS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
Ongoing development of facilities at Aberdeen Harbour has received further impetus, with the port generating record profits last year.
As a Trust Port , Aberdeen Harbour Board reinvest all profits in development and maintenance as part of a strategy to sustain and increase traffic.
In 2006, when charges were held for the seventh time in eight years, pre-tax profits increased to £9.03 million (2005 - £5.6 million), due mainly to increased traffic and reduced costs. Turnover passed £20 million for the first time, reaching £20.09 million (2005 - £19.6 million).
Harbour Board Chairman, David Paton OBE, commented: “The results reflect the successful and efficient operation of the harbour at a time of record activity by port users. The strong performance reinforces our commitment to further expansion of facilities and traffic.”
The Board previously announced that cargo and shipping reached new highs of 5.11 million tonnes and 23.46 million gross tonnes respectively last year.
More than £6.4 million was invested in development and maintenance by the Board in 2006, including the reconstruction of Albert Quay West to create more deep-water berthing, the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Marine Operations Centre and a project underway to create 20,000 square metres of back-up space at Point Law Peninsula.
A number of projects are at the study and planning stages, with the aim of further increasing capacity to handle additional traffic.
The Board have a development and maintenance budget of more than £40 million for the period 2007-2011.
Port charges have again been held at the previous year’s level for 2007.
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