By Kristy Dorsey
The Port of Cromarty Firth has reported what it described as an “excellent” year in 2019, but has warned of “extremely challenging” conditions in 2020 as cruise ship activity dried up in March with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Its other core business, servicing the oil and gas industry, has also been hampered as Covid-19 has depressed global demand. However, this has been offset to a large extent by rig inspection and maintenance work.
The Invergordon port generated a surplus after tax of £2 million last year on turnover of £10.6m. This was driven by it described as its “best-ever” cruise season since luxury vessels first sailed into the Cromarty Firth more than 40 years ago.
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It welcomed 104 ships carrying more than 167,000 passengers in 2019, up from 93 ships in the previous year with approximately 170,000 passengers. This resulted in an estimated £18m boost to the surrounding Highland economy.
However, chief executive Bob Buskie said the outlook for the port and the wider Highland economy is markedly different in 2020.
“The cruise and oil and gas industries, which are core to the port’s business, have been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said. “The construction of the Phase 4 development was delayed due to the national lockdown restrictions, however this is now nearing completion.”
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Providing direct support to the utilities industries, the port’s 35 staff are classified as “key workers” and continued operations throughout lockdown.
During 2019, it supported the 588MW Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm and construction of the 950MW Moray East Offshore Wind Farm. The latter led to a £31m investment in a new quayside and laydown area.
Further offshore work is on the horizon as the Crown Estate Scotland prepares to launch the next leasing round for up to 10GW of Scottish offshore wind developments. These opportunities are predicted to be worth £26 billion during the next 50 years.
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