A record year for ships visiting Montrose highlights the Angus town’s growing importance as a North Sea service and cargo handling base, harbour bosses say.
The total annual tonnage of ships calling at the port has for the first time exceeded 2million tonnes.
Last year’s figure of 2.08million tonnes is more than 300,000tonnes greater than the total for 2013.
Montrose Port Authority (MPA) said the increase reflected the broad spectrum of operators using the port, which is used by the oil and gas industry as well as commercial vessels with cargoes such as pulp, scrap metal, fertiliser, grain and timber.
Outgoing MPA chief executive John Paterson said: “We are delighted to have broken the 2million tonnes barrier, which reinforces Montrose’s position as a leading service base for the energy sector as well as an important import and export hub for a variety of cargoes.
“These figures come on the back of recent major investment by the port authority in upgrading our infrastructure.”
The most recent investment paid for a £6million upgrade of berths six and seven on the north side of the port to accommodate deepwater berthing.
It also covered work to improve quayside facilities as well as the refurbishment of an 853 feet quay that has been back in action since October.
The latest improvements build on the £8.5million south quay development completed three years ago.
“With a background in handling complex logistics projects and an integrated approach with port partner companies, Montrose Port Authority is now well placed for continued growth over the coming years,” said Mr Paterson, who is heading for retirement after steering MPA through the redevelopment.
He took up the post at Montrose in 2006, having played a key role in merging two governing port bodies at Peterhead into one to manage the whole facility for fishing, oil, gas and other industries.