Port of Cromarty Firth awards US$2M pre-construction contract for major offshore wind expansion

The Port of Cromarty Firth has awarded a GB£1.5 million (US$2 million) pre-construction contract to leading Scottish civil engineering firm RJ McLeod, marking a key milestone in its GB£111 million (US$148 million) Phase 5 expansion project.

This development is expected to significantly enlarge the existing 9-hectare Quay West facility and deliver essential infrastructure to support the rapid growth of fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind farms in the North Sea.

RJ McLeod, selected via the SCAPE Scotland Utilities Works and Services Framework, will be responsible for detailed design work, construction planning, and the procurement of critical materials.

The pre-construction phase is scheduled for completion by summer, with construction set to begin in the autumn.

This contract follows the UK Government’s confirmation of GB£55.7 million (US$74.3 million) in Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS) funding.

The funding will support the creation of a purpose-built Floating Offshore Wind Integration and Precommissioning facility at the port, positioning it to attract further private investment.

The expansion is projected to generate between 170 and 320 construction-phase jobs.

Upon completion, the upgraded port will provide state-of-the-art facilities for integration, precommissioning, and ongoing operational support for floating offshore wind projects—a vital step toward enhancing regional economic growth, national energy security, and achieving Net Zero targets in Scotland and the UK.

Alex Campbell, Chief Executive of the Port of Cromarty Firth, stated that this contract has been made possible through the FLOWMIS funding secured from the UK Government, which recognizes the critical role Phase 5 will play in accelerating offshore wind development, stimulating investment, and creating jobs across the Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and beyond.

Hamish Seaton, North Director at RJ McLeod, commented that the expansion will bolster the local economy through job creation and local procurement and will also contribute meaningfully to Scotland’s clean energy future.

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