Macduff Harbour is in line for a major upgrade after proposals for a new ice plant were unveiled.
The £350,000 facility is to be built at the port and now the council is looking for a company to design and install it.
The plant has been earmarked for the quayside next to the town’s fishmarket and there would also be a conveyor belt for moving ice on to waiting boats.
Local authority bosses have looked into the viability of an ice plant and hope the move will reduce the amount of time and costs for local boats currently travelling for ice.
A document prepared on behalf of the council said it should have enough storage for up to 10,000 litres of water and will be able to hold around 10 tonnes of ice.
The report said: “Water storage to provide the specified production of ice shall be included in or adjacent to the ice plant building if required for the operation of the plant.
“It is anticipated that 10,000 litres of storage will be required depending on the contractor’s design.
“A flake ice plant with a capacity of 10 tonnes per day is required.
“It is assumed a packaged ice making unit complete with ice generator, compressor, air-cooled condenser, receiver and control panel will be proposed.
“The ice generator will be sited over the ice bunker.
“It will be supported on and within a steel frame building or in a packaged container system.
“The ice plant is to produce flake ice which is to be stored in a refrigerated bunker with automatic rake and delivery system to vessels tied up alongside and to vehicles on the quay.”
Potential developers have been told the structure would need to last at least 25 years and noise levels from it should not exceed levels recommended for a residential area.
Aberdeenshire Council is inviting companies to tender a bid for the project.
The deadline for submissions is Thursday, January 25 at 9.30am.
