£14m contract awarded for Torry Quay project

ABERDEEN Harbour Board has awarded a £14million contract for the first phase of the Torry Quay redevelopment.

Northern Irish construction firm McLaughlin and Harvey will work on the initial stage of a three-phase project worth £30million, which is due to get under way next month.

About 30 people will be involved on completing the first phase, which will take 18 months. It will include the demolition of the wharves at Torry Quay and replacing them with 984ft of realigned, deep-draughted quays made from steel piles and reinforced concrete.

These new quays are designed to be more suitable for modern, deep-draughted ships and heavy cargoes.

The redevelopment project, which is part of the harbour board’s £65million development strategy, will result in more than 1,640ft of new deepwater berths and 17-plus acres of back-up land on the south side of the River Dee.

Ken Reilly, engineering director at Aberdeen harbour, said: “We are delighted that work is about to start on this redevelopment.

“Aberdeen harbour is an integral part of the north-east’s economy and it is essential that we offer port users new and improved facilities as vessels increase in size.

“Substantial consultation has taken place with all the stakeholders in the area to ensure the works are carried out without disturbance to the environment, particularly protected species of salmon and dolphin that frequently visit the harbour.”

With more than £200million invested by the board in 30 years, the port is one of the most modern in Europe.