The Port of Cromarty Firth has recorded its best turnover in its 40-year history and signalled plans to expand the harbour to bring the tourist cruise ship giants of the future to Scotland.
Its annual review revealed the firm had a turnover of £9.9 million 2017, which is £1m higher than its previous record in 2016.
The news comes after the Highland port moved to reduce its traditional reliance on the oil and gas sector, to renewables, decommissioning and the cruise ship sector.
The firm said the strategy and a higher number of vessels than expected entering the port resulted in the boost.
Cruises proved to be key and the British Ports Association named Cromarty as Scotland’s busiest cruise port.
It welcomed 93 ships and more than 150,000 passengers to the Highlands. This represented a 54 per cent increase on 2016, and another record.
The direct spend from these passengers was worth more than £15m to the Highland economy and provided a boost to a range of attractions.
It said it will also enable major developments in the harbour, such as a new quayside and laydown space, which is in the planning stages to be built through 2019/2020.
The port, a trust port run similarly to an investment trust with any profits it makes reinvested to improve facilities, said it plans to build a new multi-use berth development to provide modern facilities and to accommodate the largest cruise ships that are currently being built around the world.
Bob Buskie, Port of Cromarty Firth chief executive, said: “At the start of 2016, with low oil and gas prices, we knew the port had to adapt to sustain our growth and help keep local people in work."
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