Funding has been secured to drive forward the second phase of upgrades at Scrabster Harbour in Caithness.

Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE) awarded £3 million funding for the project, which will see the redevelopment of the existing St Ola pier to create further deep-water infrastructure and meet anticipated demand from cruise ships and offshore energy supply vessels.

Further works include the installation of a new piled quay wall and pier deck. Both the inner and outer side of the pier will also be dredged to create water depth of no less than 9m.

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When complete, the harbour will be able to welcome cruise ships of up to 250 metres and supply vessels up to 170 metres.

Sandy Mackie, Scrabster Harbour Trust manager, said: "The HIE award is tremendous news for the port and the area, marking another important milestone in our efforts to deliver the St Ola project. The procurement process to select a contractor for the works is underway. The current project programme targets the construction works beginning early in 2020."

These works form the second part of a wider £17 million harbour master plan of phased development by Scrabster Harbour Trust (SHT). Phase one saw the £17.6m redevelopment of the old fish market pier to create a modern multi-purpose quay facility renamed the Jubilee Quay, which opened in 2013.

(CM/JG)