The new marina at Stornoway is on course to open in March 2020 after the completion of phase one.
Contractors RJ McLeod Contractors Ltd are nearly finished the dredging and reclamation of the area where the facility will be built. The marina will create 75 new berths at Newton Basin for leisure craft, increasing capacity to 155.
The marina is the first phase of Stornoway Port Authority’s 20-year masterplan. A yacht lift will open later next year, while work on the marine engineering workshop and shellfish processing facility, will be progressed in 2020. Progress is also being made on the creation of a deep water port capable of berthing cruise ships up to 350 metres long.
The £11 million Newton Basin/Goat Island project has received £3.5 million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise asnd £2.75 million from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Scottish Government via the Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.
The new facilities will complement the Port Authority’s existing marina that was expanded in 2014 and can take 80 leisure craft. There has been a shortage of space during the summer and winter seasons.
Alex Macleod, Stornoway Port Authority’s chief executive, said: “2020 will be an exciting year for the Port Authority and our ambitions to improve facilities and maximise economic opportunities for the Outer Hebrides. Completing the marina project will represent an important milestone and provide a significant asset at a time when the focus will be on marine leisure facilities during the Year of Coasts and Waters.”
In April2019, marine consulting civil engineers Wallace Stone were awarded the contract to design Phase 1 of the deep water port. It is hoped that the final design will be completed and that a fully consented project will be achieved in 2020.
Macleod added: “These tests are part of the ongoing investigation work needed to prepare the best design for the deep water port. The results will provide us with the best technical data on the complex geology in the harbour and to reduce the construction risks associated with such a major project.
“This process will result in further development of the layout and design of the deep water port and is essentially to reduce all project risks to an absolute minimum. This major project will be developed further in 2020 ensuring that the economic benefits can be realised as soon as possible “
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