Forth Ports, the UK’s third largest port operator, announces today (12 December 2024) a £50 million private investment in infrastructure at the Port of Leith having secured its largest ever offshore wind contract, the delivery of the 1.1 gigawatt (GW) Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm.

This latest investment in infrastructure at the Port of Leith will enhance the port’s marine access, infrastructure and vessel assets and includes plant and equipment that will be used to deliver Inch Cape. It will also create up to 50 new and upskilled green energy jobs to support the project.

Forth Ports’ agreement with Inch Cape, to be sited off the Angus coast, will utilise the port operator’s bespoke facilities and expertise at newly created renewable energy hubs at both the Port of Leith and Port of Dundee.

Visiting the Port of Leith today, Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, said: “Investment in key sectors such as Scotland’s ports can reap rewards. This is why the Scottish Budget commits £150 million to the offshore wind infrastructure and supply – to attract private investment such as this announcement from Forth Ports.

“Supported by Forth Green Freeport incentives, the Leith Renewables Hub will bring well-paid green jobs and ensure Scotland is best placed to develop a world leading renewables sector while progressing to net zero.

“The Scottish Government’s Green Industrial Strategy identifies how we can work better, smarter and quicker to create an investor-friendly environment and seize the many opportunities for green growth which lie ahead. This is a great example of how this has been achieved.”

Today’s Leith announcement follows a decade of private investment, during which time Forth Ports has created the land, quayside and skills capacity, which has not previously existed in Scotland, to deliver very large offshore wind contracts.

Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive Officer, Forth Ports said: “Inch Cape represents a very significant milestone for Forth Ports as it is the largest offshore wind contract ever to be awarded to our business. When it goes live, Inch Cape will have a significant impact on Scotland’s energy transition as the country drives to achieve net zero carbon emissions.

“Our strategy is to create and build the renewables hubs ahead of market demand and we have achieved this in Dundee and Leith. Coupled with other specialist facilities delivered by Forth Projects, this creates an unrivalled prime position for Forth Ports to deliver large offshore wind projects.

“We have a clear vision and today we commit to investing a further £50million in Leith, from our own resources, to support Inch Cape and future renewables projects.”

David Webster, Commercial Director at Forth Ports, said: “Today’s announcement is a gamechanger for Forth Ports and the Scottish offshore wind market. We have created world class renewables hubs in Dundee and Leith and solved the challenge of local content by locating at ports near the construction sites, creating high quality local green jobs and local supply chains while securing work for future generations.”

Forth Projects – Forth Ports’ in-house logistics division – will handle Inch Cape’s monopile and jacket foundations at the Port of Leith. The specialist pre-assembly and marshalling of the wind farm’s 72 turbines – comprising 72 nacelles, 216 blades and 72 towers – will be undertaken by Vestas in the Port of Dundee (Dundee was previously announced as a hub for Inch Cape in 2022).

John Hill, Inch Cape Project Director, said: “Through our substantial contract with Forth Ports, Inch Cape is pleased to be the catalyst for a major infrastructure investment that will not only benefit our own project but also those Scottish projects that are to follow. The utilisation of these two east coast ports – Leith and Dundee – for our offshore construction, will also facilitate significant opportunities with our Tier 1 contractors for the wider Scottish supply chain.”

Leith and Dundee were chosen after a competitive selection process due to their proximity to the project site off the Angus coast, coupled with the first-class storage and assembly capacity and purpose-built offshore renewables quayside facilities. 

The £50 million investment is the second phase of delivery of the vision behind the 175-acre Leith Renewables Hub which also forms part of one of the strategically located tax sites within the Forth Green Freeport.

Once completed in 2027, Inch Cape – one of Scotland’s largest offshore wind farms – will generate enough green energy to power half of Scotland’s homes. It will feature state-of-the-art Vestas 15 megawatt (MW) turbines, the tallest ever deployed in Scottish waters at a height of 274m (20m taller than Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh) and a new onshore substation now under construction on the brownfield site of the former Cockenzie Power Station, East Lothian.

The Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, toured Scotland’s first purpose built offshore wind marshalling facility at the Port of Dundee.

The award-winning Port of Dundee’s renewables hub became fully operational in 2022, following a private investment of £40 million by Forth Ports. The port is a key part of the company’s ambitious growth plans across the country to deliver transformational green port infrastructure ahead of market demand to service the growing offshore wind industry.  This is delivering results in supply chain development for Scotland.

As part of a tour of the port, the Secretary of State met graduates and apprentices and saw first-hand the port logistics of moving offshore wind components to site in the North Sea. Dundee is currently a marshalling and assembly base for the 54 turbine 450MW Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) Offshore Wind Farm project, which is under construction 15km off the coast of Fife and has started to generate electricity.

Following the completion of NnG, the Port of Dundee is it set to become the marine hub for the 72 turbine 1.1GW Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm project scheduled to be built off the coast of Angus.

Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “It was a real pleasure to visit the Port of Dundee, part of the Forth Ports group. It was great to see in action their track record of investing in port infrastructure to support the growing domestic supply chain for offshore wind. That includes the creation of a bespoke renewables hub in Dundee. Along with their hub in Leith, this is a key part of Scotland’s transition to clean energy and to growing our green technologies.”

Stuart Wallace, Group Chief Executive of Forth Ports, who hosted the Secretary of State, said: “It was great to welcome the Secretary of State to see Scotland’s premier renewables hub in operation.  We continue to invest in dedicated wind terminal infrastructure to secure green jobs for Scotland, as the nation looks to build its offshore wind industry supply chain capacity.  Our new large-scale, purpose-built offshore wind operations at Dundee and Leith* will help grow that footprint further.

 “Our recent investment in infrastructure, people and marine services, coupled with Dundee’s strategic location, mean that Forth Ports is already supporting a pipeline of offshore wind projects that are delivering the country’s net zero, energy security and renewables targets.”

*The Port of Leith completed construction of its new renewables berth which is part of the transformation of the port into a renewable energy hub that will create thousands of high-quality green jobs and be able to accommodate the largest of offshore wind construction vessels. There will be a large lay down area to allow wind farm components to be stored and assembled and we’re working hard to attract a manufacturer to the site.

In 2023, Forth Ports launched its Net Zero Plan and the actions it is taking to achieve a Net Zero carbon operation by 2042.  The company, which is Scotland’s biggest port operator, also outlined an interim target of achieving carbon neutral emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2032, while creating an infrastructure platform – like Dundee, Leith and Burntisland – to accelerate the UK’s path to a decarbonised economy.

Stuart Wallace recorded a short video about the Secretary’s visit here .

– Ends –

The Port of Tilbury (as part of the London Construction Hub), in conjunction with Essex Chambers of Commerce, welcomed several businesses involved within construction for a tour around their facilities. Attendees included Balfour Beatty & Indurent, who were impressed by the scale of the operations and the complete solutions that the London Construction Hub could provide to construction projects.

Denise Rossiter, CEO, Essex Chambers commented:

“During the tour, members were given an in-depth look at the hub’s cutting-edge services, including its streamlined supply chain operations, vast storage capabilities, and 24/7 resilient transport links. As a vital logistics hub on London’s doorstep, the Port of Tilbury demonstrated how it reduces material miles and carbon emissions with expertise in cargo handling and marine services whilst providing tailored solutions to meet the growing demands of construction projects across the region.”

Daniel Galvin, Commercial Manager, Port of Tilbury commented:

“The London Construction Hub, has a proven track record for providing logistics solutions to major construction projects. We can provide total solutions to projects in London and the South East, presenting them with an excellent opportunity to deliver their projects with the lowest of carbon footprints whilst saving valuable space on site by utilising our material stockpiling expertise, the low embodied carbon materials imported by on-site suppliers, and our excellent river, rail, and road connectivity.”

In conjunction with Essex Chamber of Commerce, the London Construction Hub will look to welcome further businesses to visit the facilities and view the opportunities surrounding low carbon project delivery and supply chain consolidation.

For more information on the London Construction Hub, and how they may assist a construction project, please visit https://www.londonconstructionhub.co.uk/

For more information on how you can become a member of the Essex Chamber of Commerce, please visit https://www.essexchambers.co.uk/

Tilbury on the Thames Trust in Partnership with The Port of Tilbury is celebrating the achievement of securing an incredible £4,478,310 in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver its ambitious plans to fully refurbish Tilbury’s Grade II listed historic Riverside Railway Station to bring the historic landmark back to life as a vibrant community location.

The funding for the Back on Track* project marks a milestone in the Trust’s efforts over a number of years to secure major funding to transform the railway station into an exciting space for community events, studios for local artists, and a place to enjoy a cup of coffee in a new riverside café while watching the ships go by along the Thames. The transformation will celebrate the building’s rich heritage, from the arrival of the Empire Windrush to its legacy as a key stop for cruise liners today and from a bygone era.

To mark the funding award, a new video has been released today: https://vimeo.com/1017920540/e3f5fb3402?share=copy (please credit The Port of Tilbury if using this)

Commenting on the funding achievement, Paul Dale, Chair of Tilbury on the Thames Trust and COO of Forth Ports, said: “The Port of Tilbury is a gateway to the world along the River Thames, and we are proud of our maritime heritage and trade. The news that we have received National Heritage Lottery funding is very exciting, Tilbury on the Thames Trust have had a vision for the Tilbury Riverside Station in partnership with the Port for many years, and now this funding will bring the station back to life ensuring the local stories are told and preserving the rich history of the Riverside Station for generations to come.”

Scott Sullivan, co-founder of Tilbury on the Thames Trust, said: “Tilbury has literally won the Lottery! Back on Track shows how Lottery players really can make dreams come true, with this award enabling us to safeguard this remarkable building for the nation whilst also celebrating the personal stories and connections local people have. We hope our project demonstrates how residents and businesses can come together to realise something special for their community.”

 Lucy Emma Harris, Board member of Tilbury on the Thames Trust said: “Our successful application for the funding has been years in the making, driven by the dedication of the Tilbury on the Thames Trust, in close partnership with the Port of Tilbury. The Trust are extremely grateful to the many community stakeholders who rallied behind this project, including local schools Tilbury Towns Fund and local heritage groups. Their commitment to preserving this important local landmark along the River Thames highlights the station’s significance in our national story as a place of arrivals and departures, with countless stories woven into its past.

 “We look forward to welcoming the community back to Tilbury Riverside Station and invite everyone to be part of its exciting regeneration journey.”

 About the project

*Back on Track: Tilbury Riverside Station – £4,478,310 grant – Designed by Sir Edwin Cooper and built in the 1920s, Tilbury Riverside Station forms the core of the historic Port of Tilbury, a gateway to the world for almost 100 years, through which goods, people and their stories have passed to and from the UK. Most famously perhaps, this includes members of the British Caribbean Community who arrived with the SS Empire Windrush in 1948. Tilbury has also been interconnected with the River Thames and the defence of London for centuries made stark by Queen Elizabeth’s ‘heart and stomach of a king’ speech in the face of the Spanish Armada.

Back on Track is a partnership between local people and Forth Ports, which will place the building back at the heart of the local community. The restored Riverside Station will form part of the exciting redevelopment of the Tilbury waterfront, complementing Tilbury Town Fund developments, with a new café, event space, along with direct access to the River Thames. The former railway station will also include artist studios to support local business, education and investment, while permanent exhibition space will explore the history of Tilbury and its role in major national and international events. A four-year programme of engagement will explore personal histories through community research, exhibitions and events, bringing Tilbury’s rich and multi-faceted history to life.

The £4,478,310 in funding will revitalise Tilbury and create a thriving and vibrant community hub, boosting the local economy and reestablishing the town as a cultural destination. Funding will allow a full regeneration of the station building, creating 8 studio lets for local artists, a new café to offer a stop for thousands of travellers and open up the main ticket hall for community events. The project will facilitate training and learning opportunities within the community providing 6 volunteer roles, 302 volunteering opportunities and 9,000 volunteer hours, as well as almost 18,000 heritage engagement opportunities including exhibitions, community markets and workshops for locals and tourists.

‘Back on Track’ will be delivered by Tilbury on the Thames Trust in partnership with the Port of Tilbury as owners of the Riverside Station.  Both will be jointly accountable for the grant.

10 October 2024                              – ends –

At a special dedication ceremony at the Port of Leith this week, six tugs were given a traditional marine blessing with their godmothers present. They form part of the large fleet of tugs and work boats operated by Targe Towing Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Forth Ports Limited, which provide towage, emergency response and other services 24 hours a day principally on the Forth and Tay, two of the UK’s busiest waterways, the North East ports of Scotland and offshore.

The ceremony also marked, by the merged entities, 40 years of continuous towage operations at Braefoot Bay and 30 years of operations at Hound Point Marine Terminal both located on the River Forth. Bishop of Brechin, Rt Rev Andrew Swift, led the blessing of the tugs, which are named the Balmerino, Camperdown, Inchcolm, Kittiwake*, Peterel and Queensferry and, to follow the tradition of assigning a female godmother to a marine vessel, each tug had its godmother at the ceremony.

• MT BALMERINO – Godmother Carole Cran – Chief Commercial and Financial Officer at Forth Ports
• MT CAMPERDOWN – Godmother Lesley Dorman – Lesley is married to Captain Nick Dorman, MD of Targe Towing
• MT INCHCOLM – Godmother Tyne Reilly – FNGL Plant Manager at Shell
• MT KITTIWAKE* – Godmother Pamela Smyth – Chief Legal and Property Officer at Forth Ports
• MT PETEREL – Godmother Karen Wallace – Karen is married to Stuart Wallace, CEO of Forth Ports
• MT QUEENSFERRY – Godmother Angela Gardner – Angela is married to Andrew Gardner, CEO of INEOS Forties Pipeline Services, owner of the tug.

[*The Kittiwake was operating elsewhere and not present at the ceremony.]

Representatives from Damen Shipyard, Robert Allan Naval Architects and Sanmar Shipyard who designed and built the tugs, welcomed the ship’s godmothers with a gift exchange. The Tugs, crewed by expert mariners, are established work horses of the Targe Towing and INEOS FPS marine fleets and have a long life span which can last decades. These state-of-the-art vessels demonstrate the latest technology and significantly enhance the overall towage capability and emergency response for the region.

Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive of Forth Ports said; “This investment in enhanced marine services by Targe and INEOS FPS is a commitment to maintaining safe operations on the Forth, Tay and elsewhere as well as delivering excellent services to our customers. The Forth and Tay are two of the busiest waterways in the UK with thousands of vessels navigating the rivers including very large crude carriers (VLCC) to Hound Point, container vessels into Scotland’s largest container terminal at Grangemouth; jack up rigs into Dundee; cruise liners calling across our ports and deep water anchorages; and gas carriers to and from Braefoot Bay.” 

Captain Nick Dorman, Managing Director of Targe Towing said:  “These modern additions to our combined fleet will give us the flexibility and enhanced capability to future proof the growing maritime needs as the region transitions to alternative energy sources as well as maintaining the current demands.”

Andrew Gardner, CEO of INEOS FPS said: “We are delighted to be joining our partners on the Forth at this dedication ceremony and welcoming these modern and highly efficient tugs to support our Operations. In addition, I would like to mention and thank Targe Towing for 30 years of support and service on Hound Point and recognise their achievement in this time with a zero lost time safety record.”

 3 October 2024                                              -Ends-