Up to 180 skilled offshore wind jobs are being created in the Scottish Highlands as Maraen Port of Nigg near Inverness ramps up support for the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world's largest offshore project currently under construction.

The deep-water facility, a designated Green Freeport, has been selected as the marshalling harbour for the Dogger Bank B and C phases. Turbine components will be pre-assembled at the port before being transported offshore. Roles include project managers, port operators, and mechanical and electrical technicians. Hiring has been progressing in recent months, with the posts expected to support activity through to the wind farm's anticipated completion in mid-2028.

The announcement coincided with a visit to the port by Scottish Government Energy Minister Stephen Gethins MSP.

Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said: "Scotland's ports are exceptionally well placed to support the energy transition and the growth of offshore wind. Maraen Port of Nigg is a key example – boosting regional economic opportunity and supporting supply chain businesses. I am delighted to have the chance to meet some of the workers who are helping to make these projects a reality. These roles highlight the huge opportunities for people and the economy from realising the potential of our offshore wind pipeline."

Dogger Bank is a £9bn joint venture between SSE (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%), being delivered in three equal phases of 1.2GW each. Turbine installation is under way at Dogger Bank B after the phase A turbine campaign concluded earlier this year, with offshore works at Dogger Bank C scheduled to begin next year. An independent economic impact report published last year found the project is expected to generate £6.1bn for the UK economy over its lifetime while supporting thousands of skilled jobs nationwide.

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Scottish-headquartered SSE is leading construction of the project, which will feature 277 offshore wind turbines supplied by GE Vernova across all three phases. The new positions at Nigg will oversee pre-assembly of GE Vernova's 13MW and 14MW Haliade-X turbine components before they are loaded onto vessels for transport and installation at the Dogger Bank B and C sites.

Once operational in mid-2028, Dogger Bank is expected to be capable of producing around 6% of the UK's current electricity demand, strengthening the supply of homegrown, affordable, secure clean energy.

Steve Wilson, Offshore Wind Director at SSE Renewables, said: "The creation of up to 180 new jobs at Maraen Port of Nigg demonstrates how Dogger Bank Wind Farm continues to deliver real economic benefits for Scotland and the wider UK. Nigg's world-class facilities and highly skilled workforce will play an important role in delivering turbine installation activities for Dogger Bank B and C, helping to strengthen the UK offshore wind supply chain and create lasting opportunities for businesses and workers.

"As the world's largest offshore wind farm under construction, Dogger Bank is already supporting jobs, investment and economic growth across Scotland and throughout the UK. Once complete, it will make a nationally significant contribution to the UK's energy future by delivering secure, affordable and home-grown low-carbon power for millions of homes and businesses, while contributing more than £6 billion to the UK economy and supporting thousands of skilled jobs over its lifetime."

Maraen Port of Nigg was named the marshalling harbour for wind turbine components for the B and C phases in May 2026. Operated by Maraen, the site is a leading UK integrated deep-water port for the energy sector. Its extensive deep-water quays, substantial laydown areas and heavy ground-loading capacity make it well suited to large-scale offshore wind deployment and complex project logistics. Since 2018, the port has supported four consecutive offshore wind campaigns, including SSE's Seagreen and Beatrice projects.

Yoshihiro Hayakawa, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Maraen, said: "We are pleased to welcome the Energy Minister to Maraen Port of Nigg and to confirm that up to 180 skilled roles are being created at our port across Dogger Bank B and Dogger Bank C. Building on our previous experience supporting SSE's Beatrice and Seagreen offshore wind farms, this work reflects the infrastructure, capabilities and experienced teams we have developed at Nigg to support large-scale offshore wind projects safely and efficiently.

"The sustained investment in the port has created infrastructure that is critical to Scotland's and the UK's energy transition. We are committed to continued investment in Maraen Port of Nigg to ensure it remains at the forefront of the energy industry, attracting further projects of this scale and, in turn, supporting the growth of high-value, sustainable employment opportunities for the next generation in the region."

The new roles at Nigg add to Dogger Bank's broader economic impact across Scotland. In 2021, contracts awarded to Aberdeen-based shipbuilder North Star Group to provide service operation vessels for the project supported around 170 UK-based jobs, helping expand Scotland's offshore wind supply chain while creating new employment across the country.