Aberdeen Harbour, now rebranded as Port of Aberdeen, is one of the UK’s busiest ports and is currently undergoing a £400 million expansion project to increase capacity and accommodate larger vessels.
Doig + Smith are providing consultancy services to the project, which is the largest marine infrastructure project underway in the UK.
We sat down with CEO of Port of Aberdeen, Bob Sanguinetti to find out more.
D+S:
Port of Aberdeen is thought to be one of Britain’s oldest existing businesses – what are the major changes you’ve seen during your relatively short tenure and how do you see this changing going forward?
BS:
We’ve rebranded from Aberdeen Harbour Board to Port of Aberdeen to reflect the commercial nature of our diverse business. The South Harbour expansion project has also progressed at pace – we’ve now met two out of our three milestones (60% of quayside completed), welcomed more than 25 vessels, and are now set to complete in late spring of next year. We have also stepped up our efforts on our green strategy, setting clear targets on our path towards Net Zero.
D+S:
Could you briefly summarise for those who aren’t familiar, what the main pillars of the £400 million expansion project are?
BS:
Aberdeen South Harbour will increase our quayside length by a fifth and crucially more than treble our deepwater quays. This will transform Port of Aberdeen into a much more attractive logistics hub, where economies of scale can now be achieved to a much greater extent than in the past across a wide range of sectors including oil and gas, decommissioning, offshore wind, general cargo and cruise. With 125,000 sq metres of laydown area, we will also be able to accommodate activity associated with space hungry industries.
Aberdeen South Harbour is the largest marine infrastructure project underway in the UK, and will support the energy transition and growth of the trade and maritime sector.
Port of Aberdeen’s existing North Harbour offers world-class facilities and infrastructure, and the South Harbour expansion will:
- Add 1.4km of deepwater berthage
- Accommodate ships up to 300 metres in length
- Incorporate extensive heavy-lift zones up to 15 tonnes/m2
- Offer 125,000m2 of flexible laydown space and expansive project areas
D+S:
How will the finished project impact the City of Aberdeen both in terms of business and out with industry
BS:
The expanded Port of Aberdeen will be at the heart of the development of high potential sectors, including offshore wind and green hydrogen, and will add £0.9 billion GVA and support an additional 5,500 jobs. Our vision is to attract large scale renewables projects to North East Scotland, catalysing world-class technological innovation, and the Port will play a pivotal role in the emergence of green economic growth in the wider maritime industry and support new green jobs.
Aberdeen South Harbour will further increase the Port’s capacity for cruise calls from 2023, accommodating cruise ships in excess of 200m and supporting berthing opportunities for the majority of the world’s cruise ship fleet, enabling many more guests to enjoy all that the Granite City and surrounding Shire have to offer.
D+S:
Main observations of the changing face of your industry?
BS:
The increased focus on sustainability and agreement across the ports and shipping industry on the urgent need to decarbonise it. The industry is facing significant challenges and opportunities over the coming years. Port of Aberdeen is ideally placed to play a leading role as the industry transitions to renewable energy – a brand new future-proofed harbour, broad range of energy companies operating out of the port, deep connections with the extensive skills base and supply chain network which has been supporting the offshore energy sector for the past fifty years.
The opportunities here are huge. 70% of the ScotWind licences awarded, totalling a massive 18 GW of offshore wind power, are within 100 nautical miles of Aberdeen and Peterhead. 14GW of this is floating wind, a sector in which Scotland and the UK can achieve a competitive advantage to become global market leaders.
Aberdeen’s brand new £400m South Harbour expansion provides 24-hour non-tidal access and deep-water facilities on the East Coast and is poised to support the next generation of low carbon energy developments.
D+S:
As one of the main players in the North East Scotland Green Freeport bid, how achievable do you think it is to reposition the North East as the net-zero capital of Europe
BS:
The expanded Port of Aberdeen is at the heart of the North East Scotland Green Freeport bid which will create up to 32,000 high quality jobs and opportunities for those that need them most, boost GVA by £8.5 billion and transform the region into the Net Zero Capital of Europe.
For decades, this region has been the Oil & Gas Capital of Europe and the engine room of the British economy. This has left us with a rich industrial legacy, and with the tax levers of a Green Freeport, we can transform Aberdeen and Peterhead into the Net Zero Capital of Europe.
The transition from oil & gas towards clean energy production in the North East has inevitably led to skilled workers seeking employment out with our region. A Green Freeport would reverse this displacement by creating thousands of high-quality, green jobs and reskilling and upskilling the regional workforce. It would stimulate significant levels of regeneration across the region, levelling up deprived communities and accelerating a just transition overall.
Owing to our energy heritage, the North East of Scotland is without doubt one the world’s most attractive locations to invest in low carbon technologies.
This region is home to 75% of the world’s subsea capability and over a thousand energy supply chain companies – the critical mass of skills and infrastructure required to accelerate our transition to new energies.
With Green Freeport status, we can repeat this industrial and economic feat with the acceleration of low carbon and renewable energies, creating new innovative and pioneering powerhouse industries.
D+S:
How does managing Port of Aberdeen compare to previous roles you have held?
BS: My current role is very similar to my previous ones in that it entails leading and managing a team of highly committed and professional individuals. Whether it is completing the South Harbour project, improve efficiencies in our existing North Harbour or making progress towards Net Zero – my role is to bring the team together, ensuring all members understand what our priorities and objectives are, and how their efforts directly contribute towards those goals.