Harbour bosses have spent £300,000 on beefed up security measures following an alarming rise in trespassing incidents at a north-east port.
Aberdeen Harbour has reported 19 cases of unauthorised entry to its premises and breakwaters since the beginning of the year.
People have been seen using ladders on car roofs, ropes and beach debris to scale perimeter fencing to breach security measures.
Now port officials have urged caution while schools are closed for the October holidays and the nights get longer.
John McGuigan, operations manager at Aberdeen Harbour, described the lengths some trespassers go to to circumvent barriers as “astonishing”.
He said: “When we ask people why they were out on a breakwater or other secured infrastructure, it turns out they were just taking photographs, or wanted to go fishing, or were just having a laugh and fancied a swim.
“People are putting themselves at serious risk by deliberately obtaining unauthorised access.
“Swimming from the shore in the shipping channel or jumping off the harbour’s breakwaters is extremely dangerous and there is a real risk of being swept out by the currents or into the paths of large ships, which would not be able to stop.
“There is also a high chance of being injured on rocks beneath the service.”
A “significant rise” in break-ins was reported earlier this year between May and August when schools were closed and stricter lockdown restrictions were in force.
Aberdeen Harbour has recently invested £300,000 in improving security in an attempt to stop unauthorised access.
More than 500 lights have also been replaced to shine brighter in the dark.
Talks are regularly held between harbour officials, police, the NHS and other organisations to continually review and improve security to reduce incidents.
Aberdeen Harbour is one of the busiest ports in the country, which provides vital support to the offshore oil and gas industry as well as trading links to 40 countries across the world.
Mr McGuigan added: “Every time we have a trespass incident, it puts a lot of pressure on our teams and, sometimes, the emergency services.
“When any of us respond, we are put at additional risk as we can’t social distance because our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of those on the site.”
Anyone who sees suspicious activity or individuals at the harbour should call harbour officials on 01224 597000.
