Scotland's longest commercial deep-water berth has been created in Orkney following the completion of a new extension at Hatston Pier.

The 160-metre extension has been added on to the existing 225-metre pier and cost £8m.

The project is part of the ports development strategy, which is supporting Orkney's role in the evolution of technologies that harness energy from waves and tidal currents.

Orkney Islands Council is currently investing in a number of major infrastructure projects to provide the marine renewables industry with new or upgraded pier and quayside facilities throughout the islands.

The developments, which are being carried out at Hatston, Lyness and Copland's Dock in Stromness, will support the trialling of technologies at EMEC, as well as future developments of commercial wave and tidal arrays in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters.

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The new extension at Hatston gained £3.2m in support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and has resulted in a major support and logistics base, strategically located for EMEC's tidal energy site off Eday.

Speaking about the investment, Council Convener Councillor Steven Heddle said: "The Council recognised at an early stage how important marine renewable energy would be to the economy of our islands, to Scotland and to the UK as a whole.

"Investment in our three ports strategy means there are firm foundations in place to maintain and enhance Orkney's pivotal role in the development of wave and tidal energy generation.

"The pier is now almost a quarter of a mile long and, as well as supporting this important new sector, will serve Orkney well as a berth for a variety of vessels, including ferries, cruise ships and those serving the offshore oil and gas industries."

Under the three ports strategy, a £3m initiative saw a former wartime naval base at Lyness refurbished into a multi-purpose logistics base for the wave and tidal energy sectors, while work is currently underway on a new 100-metre pier at Copland's Dock in Stromness and is expected to cost £9.2m.

(JP/MH)