News

EXPANDED FACILITIES ACCOMMODATE ANOTHER BUSY PERIOD AT ABERDEEN HARBOUR

Aberdeen Harbour has set a new record for the tonnage of shipping handled in a single week at the port, contributing to an increase in activity in the first nine months of this year, compared with the same period in 2007.

Between January and September, 18.58 million gross tonnes of shipping used the port, up from 17.86 million gross tonnes in the first three-quarters of last year. During seven days at the end of September, a record 589,523 gross tonnes of shipping berthed at the port’s six kilometres of quays, topping the previous highest figure of 582,055 gross tonnes in 2007.

Nine months' figures released by Aberdeen Harbour Board also show that 3.81 million tonnes of imports and exports were shipped through the port to end September, compared with 3.79 million tonnes on the same timescale in 2007 which went on to be a record year for both cargo and shipping.

Harbour Board Chief Executive, Colin Parker, commented: "Positive trends continue to be seen at the port with, for example, the ongoing high level of activity in the offshore oil and gas industry and the general cargo sector, including sustained growth in cargoes introduced in recent years."

These include the export of logs, up more than 6,500 tonnes at over 34,700 tonnes, and scrap metal, increased by almost 25,000 tonnes at almost 76,000 tonnes.

Mr Parker added: "The overall activity and the tonnage of shipping demonstrate the merits of our continuing programme which has significantly expanded the port's deep-water berths and quayside cargo handling capacity to accommodate the much larger vessels now operating, with further major development of facilities in the pipeline."