The Cromarty Firth Port Authority is to go it alone as as it plans a £25m quay expansion at Invergordon to grow its successful cruise liner business.
Yesterday the authority said it had decided to end its Cruise Highlands joint venture arrangement with Tain-based company Bannerman Co Ltd and will operate its own cruise company from October.
The CFPA, which in recent years has branded itself the Port of Cromarty Firth, said it had made the decision because there was a “real need for significant investment in the future potential of the port’s cruise business, which is more difficult for private investors to justify due to the long term investments required.”
Family-owned Bannermans, which is involved in transport, seafood, car sales and a number of other sectors, owns the Admirality Pier, in Invergordon. Under the joint venture the company worked with the port authority to attract and make arrangements for liners visiting the pier.
Port chief executive Bob Buskie revealed the organisation’s vision for the new berth and passenger facilities, saying it was keen to capitalise on the growth in the cruise industry and attract more, larger ships to Invergordon.
Mr Buskie said: “These larger vessels can be worth around £500,000 to the local economy as they can carry up to 5,000 passengers.
“Our deep water port is the ideal location to grow and develop this cruise tourism for the Highlands and the area has so much to offer in terms of shore excursions. The local infrastructure is more than able to cope with these larger vessels.
“To secure this business for the local area and the rest of the Highlands, we need to invest in a new quayside, along with enhanced passenger facilities and overall visitor experience. We are in competition with other UK ports who are investing in new facilities, so we must do all we can to boost the number of ships coming into the Cromarty Firth.
“We have a vision for a new berth at a significant additional investment of £25 million to accommodate the requirements of the modern passenger and the larger ships that are coming into the port.”
Mr Buskie said that as a Trust Port, the organisation was “very different to a private company” and had the “ability to invest in projects for the good of the community and take a longer term view on return on investment.”
He added: “We believe this development is critical to the area, as so many businesses rely on the income from our cruise passengers.
“Our vision for Invergordon and the Port of Cromarty Firth is to offer the best possible Highland experience to visitors. This will help attract more cruise business and encourage people to return to our beautiful region time and again.”
The cruise liner development would form the fourth phase of recent development at the port. The authority said design engineers have developed a number of options for construction and it is in the final phases of securing funding, with the aim of completing the project by 2020.
Captain Iain Dunderdale, who ran Cruise Highlands, will head the port’s cruise company.
He said: “I’m excited to be part of this new cruise vision for the Port of Cromarty Firth. Having worked for the port for decades, I know that the team here are the safest and most experienced pair of hands to build and develop this new cruise company.”
The Invergordon port yesterday welcomed its 1,000th cruise liner, with the arrival of the into the Koningsdam, carrying 2,606 passengers on its maiden voyage. A record number of 63 ships, 96,500 passengers will have visited by the time the cruise season ends next month.
Bannermans did not respond to requests for a comment yesterday.
