Offshore renewable energy berth at Port of Leith formally opened
Thursday 24th April 2025
Forth Ports’ new deep water riverside berth at the Port of Leith – designed to host the world’s largest offshore wind construction vessels – was formally opened today (24th April).
It has been named the Charles Hammond Berth in honour of the company’s former Chief Executive, with the naming ceremony attended by Kirsty McNeill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland; Forth Ports’ Chair, Lord Smith of Kelvin, and its Board of Directors; key members of Forth Ports staff and apprentices; alongside other stakeholders including Grahams, who constructed the berth; as well as Charles Hammond OBE himself.
Charles, who stepped down from the role in 2024 after 23 years, unveiled a specially commissioned sculpture at the berth. The 7ft structure has been created by Borders-based craftsman, Daniel Lacey, using a reclaimed wind turbine blade (see images attached with this release).
To date, Forth Ports has invested more than £100 million of private funds into transforming the Port of Leith into a world class renewables hub, which is already playing a key role in supporting Scotland’s energy transition. The Charles Hammond Berth was completed last year and later this year will play a pivotal role in the delivery of the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm. This will be the Port of Leith’s largest ever offshore wind contract and is creating up to 50 new and upskilled green energy jobs at Forth Ports to support the project.
Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive of the Forth Ports Group, said: “Today marks another important milestone in the history of Forth Ports and the transformation of the Port of Leith. Ahead of market demand, we have created a world class piece of infrastructure for Scotland as the nation starts to deliver the first wave of larger offshore wind projects taking shape in the North Sea. This, alongside our investment in the Port of Dundee, has created two purpose-built assembly terminals to meet the immediate needs of Scotland’s offshore wind sector.
“These assets are part of Forth Ports’ vision aimed at addressing the UK’s port capacity required for the deployment of these projects, keeping the activity here in Scotland and the UK. This port infrastructure will be here for the long term and will become part of our sustainable future.
“Naming the berth after Charles couldn’t be a more fitting tribute to his leadership and we are proud to have his name on the berth as part of his legacy.”
Charles Hammond OBE said: “This is a real honour for me and I am humbled that this high-quality berth features my name. During my time as Chief Executive, Leith and its port have gone through significant change and transition. However, this investment in the new renewables berth is the biggest transformation of the port in a generation.
“With the continued support of private businesses like Forth Ports, and a collaborative approach with both the UK and Scottish governments, there is a real opportunity to see a significant pipeline of projects delivered from here, creating economic benefit for Leith, Edinburgh and Scotland as well as assisting the UK in achieving its Net Zero targets.
“My thanks to Stuart and the team for this and I wish Forth Ports every success as the business continues on its upwards trajectory.”
Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: “It’s a privilege to attend the formal opening of the Charles Hammond Berth at the Port of Leith today. This investment of more than £100 million from Forth Ports represents exactly the kind of forward-thinking infrastructure Scotland needs as we accelerate our journey toward net zero. The berth isn’t just a fitting tribute to Charles Hammond’s leadership; it’s a powerful statement about Scotland’s commitment to renewable energy and green jobs.
“This has the potential to support thousands of high-quality jobs and position the Firth of Forth as a central driver of Scotland’s just energy transition. The UK Government, through our Plan for Change, is proud to support this reindustrialisation that puts Scotland at the forefront of offshore wind development.”
The berth features a heavy lift capability of up to 100 tonnes per square metre (t/m2), backed up by 175 acres of adjacent land for associated renewables logistics, marshalling and manufacturing.
Leith is Scotland’s largest renewable energy hub on a 175-acre site – supporting Scotland’s energy transition plans, boosting local supply chains, creating new, high quality green jobs and making a significant contribution to the country achieving its net zero carbon emissions targets. The Leith Renewables Hub is part of the Forth Green Freeport’s strategically located tax sites which aim to reindustrialise central Scotland, generating thousands of high-quality green jobs by increasing trade and supporting the growth of businesses across the Firth of Forth.
Port of Dundee bids farewell to NnG as project’s final offshore wind turbine blades leave the port
Wednesday 9th April 2025
The Brave Tern offshore wind installation vessel sailed down the Tay from the Port of Dundee on its way to the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm for the last time, signalling the successful completion of the port’s role in the construction phase of the project.
Loaded with its final NnG cargo of wind turbine blades, the vessel was bound for the offshore wind farm site located 15km off the coast of Fife at Crail, where the blades have now been installed.
Since 2022, the Port of Dundee has been hosting the turbine components for NnG at its custom-built Wind Turbine Marshalling Facility – DunEco Quay – prior to the towers being pieced together, each 90 metres in height, on the port’s quayside where they have become a familiar part of the city’s skyline. The towers were then shipped along with turbine blades 83.5 metres in length and the generating nacelles to the wind farm site.
NnG, jointly owned by EDF Renewables UK and Ireland and ESB, will have a capacity of c.450MW. It will supply enough low carbon electricity for around 375,000* homes and will offset 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
The Port of Dundee’s renewables hub represents a £40 million private investment in Dundee by Forth Ports, creating a 485 metres long heavy lift quayside and lay down area of 15 hectares – equivalent to 20 full size football pitches. It will next play host to the turbine components for the 1.1GW Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm which will be constructed 12km off the Angus coast.
This investment also marked Forth Ports’ entry to the offshore wind market, culminating in a total spend of £150 million and the creation of a further facility at the Port of Leith, providing Scotland with the ports infrastructure it needs to meet the needs of this market, creating both economic activity and a route towards decarbonisation.
Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive of Forth Ports, owners of the Port of Dundee, said: “It’s been our pleasure to host NnG here in Dundee and we look forward to hearing that it’s fully operational and pumping 450MW of clean, green energy into the National Grid in the summer. We’re particularly proud that this project has been delivered with no recordable injuries meaning that everyone involved went home safe. The port teams are now preparing to welcome Inch Cape to both Dundee and Leith as we continue to focus on helping Scotland and the UK meet our carbon reduction and renewables targets.”
Matt Haag, Project Director at NnG, said: “I’d like to thank the Port of Dundee and the people of the city for hosting us as we constructed this major infrastructure project for Scotland. We plan to be fully operational this summer and look forward to maintaining the links that we have built with our land-based neighbours throughout NnG’s 25-year lifespan.”
Dundee City Council leader, Councillor Mark Flynn, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the operation to transport components to the NnG offshore windfarm from Dundee. This showcases the important role our port is playing as a key hub in driving forward the nation’s renewable energy ambitions.
Dundee’s involvement in Forth Ports’ delivery of Inch Cape also highlights our strategic importance in the transition to net zero.”
9th April 2025 Ends
Wednesday 9th April 2025
The Brave Tern offshore wind installation vessel sailed down the Tay from the Port of Dundee on its way to the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm for the last time, signalling the successful completion of the port’s role in the construction phase of the project. Loaded with its final NnG cargo of wind turbine blades, the vessel was …
The Brave Tern offshore wind installation vessel sailed down the Tay from the Port of Dundee on its way to the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm for the last time, signalling the successful completion of the port’s role in the construction phase of the project.
Loaded with its final NnG cargo of wind turbine blades, the vessel was bound for the offshore wind farm site located 15km off the coast of Fife at Crail, where the blades have now been installed.
Since 2022, the Port of Dundee has been hosting the turbine components for NnG at its custom-built Wind Turbine Marshalling Facility – DunEco Quay – prior to the towers being pieced together, each 90 metres in height, on the port’s quayside where they have become a familiar part of the city’s skyline. The towers were then shipped along with turbine blades 83.5 metres in length and the generating nacelles to the wind farm site.
NnG, jointly owned by EDF Renewables UK and Ireland and ESB, will have a capacity of c.450MW. It will supply enough low carbon electricity for around 375,000* homes and will offset 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
The Port of Dundee’s renewables hub represents a £40 million private investment in Dundee by Forth Ports, creating a 485 metres long heavy lift quayside and lay down area of 15 hectares – equivalent to 20 full size football pitches. It will next play host to the turbine components for the 1.1GW Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm which will be constructed 12km off the Angus coast.
This investment also marked Forth Ports’ entry to the offshore wind market, culminating in a total spend of £150 million and the creation of a further facility at the Port of Leith, providing Scotland with the ports infrastructure it needs to meet the needs of this market, creating both economic activity and a route towards decarbonisation.
Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive of Forth Ports, owners of the Port of Dundee, said: “It’s been our pleasure to host NnG here in Dundee and we look forward to hearing that it’s fully operational and pumping 450MW of clean, green energy into the National Grid in the summer. We’re particularly proud that this project has been delivered with no recordable injuries meaning that everyone involved went home safe. The port teams are now preparing to welcome Inch Cape to both Dundee and Leith as we continue to focus on helping Scotland and the UK meet our carbon reduction and renewables targets.”
Matt Haag, Project Director at NnG, said: “I’d like to thank the Port of Dundee and the people of the city for hosting us as we constructed this major infrastructure project for Scotland. We plan to be fully operational this summer and look forward to maintaining the links that we have built with our land-based neighbours throughout NnG’s 25-year lifespan.”
Dundee City Council leader, Councillor Mark Flynn, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the operation to transport components to the NnG offshore windfarm from Dundee. This showcases the important role our port is playing as a key hub in driving forward the nation’s renewable energy ambitions.
Dundee’s involvement in Forth Ports’ delivery of Inch Cape also highlights our strategic importance in the transition to net zero.”
9th April 2025 Ends
Shaping conversations across key markets – Forth Ports launches official podcast, ‘The ForthCast’
Tuesday 25th February 2025
Forth Ports has today (25th February) launched its official podcast, The ForthCast.
The ForthCast opens the doors and offers a fresh, unique perspective into Forth Ports as a business, the key markets shaping the UK economy and the people that make things happen across the business as well as what Forth Ports is doing to help drive economic activity and growth in the UK.
The podcast will feature a range of guests from across the business as well as hearing from industry leaders and experts across some of the company’s key markets and the communities in which it operates.
Launching across several platforms, the first episode focuses on the cruise industry, Forth Ports’ continued evolution and growth in this sector, with insights from Forth Ports Senior Business Development and Strategy Manager, Rob Mason, hosted by cruise industry expert and advisor, Liz Gammon.
The next episode will spotlight Forth Ports’ exciting journey into Offshore Wind, highlighting their groundbreaking infrastructure developments that are set to deliver transformative energy projects for future generations.
Rob Mason, Senior Business Development and Strategy Manager at Forth Ports, said: “We have been working on bringing The ForthCast to a wide range of listeners behind the scenes for a while now and finally launching the podcast is a great feeling. At Forth Ports, we see this as the perfect opportunity for everyone to learn about who we are, gain insights on various subjects across our key markets and, most importantly, get to know the people who make Forth Ports the place it is today.”
The ForthCast is a Forth Ports Limited and Pixelwork production. The ForthCast is available on:
