Leiths

Kishorn Port Ltd (KPL), a joint venture between Leiths and Ferguson Transport, has signed an MOU with HIE, who have pledged continuing support for the development of the Kishorn Yard.

The First Minister made the announcement at a recent Conference on Offshore Wind in Aberdeen.

Simon Russell, CEO of Leiths (Scotland) Ltd (far right), and Alasdair Ferguson, MD of Ferguson Transport (2^nd from right), with the First Minister at the announcement of the MOU with HIE.

Four Ports and Harbours have been identified as sites for potential future inward investment of up to £100m. Kishorn was identified along with Nigg, Ardersier and the Cromarty Firth as being the prime Scottish sites for the emerging renewables industry. Simon Russell and Alasdair Ferguson, both Directors of KPL also had a personal briefing session with Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Energy Minister, where the Minister was able to confirm the ongoing support of the Scottish Government, as well as HIE, for the Kishorn project.

Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Energy Minister, visiting the KPL Stand at the recent Offshore Wind Conference in Aberdeen.

The unique combination of very deep water (80m +), an on-site quarry, a very large dry dock, extensive lay down areas and resident stevedoring facilities make Kishorn the ideal location for the serial manufacture of large concrete gravity bases up to 6,000t in weight. The full scale development of Kishorn could generate up to 2500 jobs.

The Directors of KPL have been working hard to promote the resurrection of the Yard and make it “shovel ready” for a developer. To this end, a Masterplan application is being prepared for submission to the Highland Council in June, to include manufacturing, construction, assembly, fabrication, warehousing, and marine service facilities. Exhaustive environmental studies of the Kishorn area have been undertaken to enable an assessment of the effects of the proposal on natural heritage interests, both land and marine, and on the local communities of Applecross, Shieldaig, Lochcarron, Plockton and Stromeferry.

As part of the consultation process for the project, a public exhibition is being held in Lochcarron on 20 February 2013.