Maraen Port of Nigg has awarded the construction contract for its new Eastern Inner Dock Quay (EIDQ) to McLaughlin & Harvey, marking a major milestone in the continued expansion of one of the UK’s key energy ports.
The project forms part of a wider investment programme valued at more than £30 million and will deliver a new heavy-duty quay covering approximately 16,000m², alongside additional roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) capability. Construction preparations have already begun on site. The development is supported by a £10 million grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), contributing to the Scottish Government’s wider commitment to strengthen Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain.
McLaughlin & Harvey returns to the Port of Nigg after previously delivering the reconstruction of the South Quay between 2014 and 2015, a project that significantly enhanced the port’s operational capabilities. Seamus Devlin, Managing Director at McLaughlin & Harvey, said the company was pleased to be returning to the site and would draw on its extensive experience in delivering complex marine infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland.
The new quay will serve as a dedicated load-out and export facility for high-voltage cables produced at the adjacent Sumitomo Electric HVDC cable manufacturing plant, creating a direct connection between production and deployment. In addition, the development will increase overall quayside capacity and enable the port to handle more complex and simultaneous operations.
Maraen Port of Nigg has established itself as a strategic energy hub with deepwater berths, Green Freeport status and a track record supporting more than 4GW of offshore wind deployment. The EIDQ development is expected to further strengthen its role in offshore wind logistics and wider energy sector projects while supporting future growth across the supply chain.
