The Port of Leith’s newly constructed Charles Hammond Berth showed off its unrivalled deep-water capability as it facilitated the ‘float-off’ marine operation for Type 31 frigate, HMS Venturer, as she entered the River Forth for the first time recently.

The float-off operation carried out in Leith marked a major milestone in the ship’s build journey and demonstrated the sheltered, deep water accessibility of the berth which has been constructed primarily for the offshore wind industry.

HMS Venturer arrived in Leith on a specialist semi-submersible barge, towed from Babcock’s Rosyth facility by tugs operated by Forth Ports’ towage division, Targe Towing. The float-off was a collaborative effort involving Forth Ports teams from marine, engineering and their heavy lift specialists, Forth Projects, who provided the cranage services which played a key role in supporting the operation. This expertise provided the precision handling and lift support to ensure the safe and efficient transition of the ship into the water.

Following the successful float-off in Leith, HMS Venturer was returned under tow to Babcock’s Rosyth facility, where outfitting and systems integration will continue ahead of sea trials.

Commenting on the role of the port in this operation, Derek Knox, Regional Director of Forth Ports said: “This operation was a true collaboration project where marine and engineering and heavy lift experts worked seamlessly to ensure the successful float-off of the brand new HMS Venturer.

“The Charles Hammond Berth in Leith was opened last year and has been designed primarily to handle the world’s largest offshore wind vessels, and due to its deep water capability and sheltered location, the berth can also be used for bespoke marine project work such as this one. Our operations, marine and towage experts all worked as one team with Babcock, Malin and Forth Logistics to ensure a safe and smooth operation. We wish the HMS Venturer well for the future.”

HMS Venturer is the first of five Type 31 frigates to be delivered for the Royal Navy by Babcock.

2 July 2025                                             – ends –

Captain Alan McPherson, Chief Harbour Master at Forth Ports has been voted in as the new President of the UK Harbour Masters Association taking over the role at the Association AGM in Southampton on 11th June from Captain Paul Brooks who completed his two year tenure as President.

The United Kingdom Harbour Masters’ Association (UKHMA) is the one of the world’s oldest and largest Harbour Master & Port Marine Management Associations and consists of over 500 Harbour Masters, Port professionals and Commercial members from ports, harbours and marinas across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the UK Crown Dependencies.

Captain McPherson is an very experienced mariner, Harbour Master and Senior Port executive with over 25 years in the sector. He is the Chief Harbour Master for Forth Ports where he has been in post for nearly a decade and is responsible for the busy waterways of the Forth and Tay and has an operating area of 280 square miles of navigable waters, including two specialist marine terminals for oil and gas export and provides other marine services, such as towage and conservancy.

Alan was previously with the Port of Tyne Authority where he held various roles in the 15 years with the company including Senior Pilot, Deputy Harbour Master and Harbour Master. He has also worked with the Port of Sunderland, and prior to that a career at sea.

Commenting on his appointment, Captain McPherson said: “I am honoured to have been voted to the role of President of the UKHMA and my thanks to Captain Brooks for the past two years. I have been in the sector for nearly three decades and a member of UKHMA since 2005. The UKHMA is well respected  in the industry, and I am looking forward to representing and presenting the views of the members for the next two years. Harbour Masters and marine professionals are an essential part of our Ports and Harbours and I look forward to working collaboratively with all our stakeholders in promoting the objectives of the Association, sharing best practice and creating an environment where open, positive and constructive dialogue exists.’’

The Association represents a unique source of relevant expert knowledge and experience across a range of port and marine operations. The main objective of the Association, which was formed in 1993, is to encourage the safe and efficient conduct of marine operations in ports as laid out in the Port and Marine Facility Safety Code and engage with, advise and consult with the UK and the Devolved Nation’s Governments and associated regulatory Maritime Agencies.

Martin Willis AFNI, Executive Officer of the UKHMA said: “On behalf of Paul Brooks, our out going Association President and the full membership of the UKHMA we welcome Alan as the newly elected President of the Association and wish him all success in the role. Alan has been appointed by his industry peers entirely on merit and richly deserves the honour to lead our highly regarded professional organisation and shall undertake the role as the lead representative of the Association with great confidence, assurance and the full support of all members of the UK Harbour Masters Association during the tenure of his Presidency”.

– ends-

To mark National Windrush Day 2025, the Port of Tilbury has today (20 June) released a commissioned film which takes a retrospective look at celebratory events hosted by the port, the Tilbury on the Thames Trust, and the local community and the legacy they have helped to create.

77 years ago on the 22 June 1948, the port played a significant role for the Windrush generation as it was their first arrival point into the UK after a long voyage on board the Empire Windrush from the Caribbean. When she docked, a generation of people were able to move through the Cruise Terminal on Tilbury’s riverside to start their new life in the UK.

Featuring contributions from Paul Dale, Chair of the Tilbury of the Thames Trust and Lucy Emma Harris, Community Liaison Manager for Forth Ports, the film celebrates the success of securing National Lottery Heritage funding to allow the historic railway station, which many Windrush people used on route to London and beyond, to be regenerated to a community space. Using archive footage of previous events and historical moments, the film also looks ahead to Windrush 80 when the railway transformation works will be complete.

To see the film in full please use this link: https://vimeo.com/1094327482/81821617f5?share=copy [credit: Forth Ports]

Paul Dale, Chair of Tilbury on the Thames Trust and Chief Operating Officer of Forth Ports commented: “We are proud of the part the Port of Tilbury played when the Empire Windrush arrived in our port in 1948. It is important for us all to remember the positive impact the Windrush generation played then and now in our local and national culture.

“We have traditionally held celebrations here in the port and although we cannot host an event this year, we are excited about the railway station refurbishment project and we look forward to the completion of this in time for the Windrush 80^th anniversary celebrations in 2028.”

20 June 2025                                   -ends-

Forth Ports announces their support for the national Beach of Dreams coastal arts festival taking place in May. Forth Ports, which operates ports in Scotland and in Tilbury in London, hosted the national launch of the festival in their London Cruise terminal on the banks of the Thames earlier this month and now, they are supporting the roll out of an artist-led programme of community engagement across Fife working with a number of local schools and community groups in the region.

Beach of Dreams, presented by Kinetika, is a UK-wide coastal arts festival activating and exploring the unique heritage, cultures and climate futures of our coastlines which will see ambitious new participatory art commissions, creative walks and events taking place across the country during May.

Working with schools in Kirkcaldy, Burntisland, Rosyth and Methil artist Julie Brook alongside the FifeArtMatters and Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, will create Tide Line, a striking 100-metre tidal sculpture shaped by the rhythms of the Fife coastline and built with local communities using natural materials.

Workshops with schools and community groups will bring people into the creative process, while a 14-day journey along the 117-mile Fife Coastal Path with Fife Coast and Countryside Trust – from Kincardine to St Andrews – will connect participants and groups through walking, cycling, and creative events.

The commission culminates in a moving performance and choral work, created in collaboration with composer Jay Capperauld, poet Niall Campbell, and choreographer Rosemary Lee OBE – echoing the rhythm of the tides.

Commenting on the project, Stuart Wallace, CEO of Forth Ports said: “We are excited to support the Beach of Dreams project nationally and particularly in Fife in the coastal communities where we work. It is not often that a national project like this spans a number of our locations in Scotland and in Tilbury and it shows our group commitment to this project.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with Kinetika again, as well as Julie Brook, ArtMovesFife and the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust to deliver this inspirations project which will showcase the unique coastline of Fife.”

Ali Pretty, Artistic Director, Beach of Dreams and Kinetika said: “It’s incredibly energising to have the continued support of Forth Ports as Beach of Dreams has grown across the UK. Their commitment – from Tilbury to Leith and now into Fife – enables us to root the project within communities and schools, where young people are central to reimagining our coastal futures. What’s unfolding along the Fife coastline is truly extraordinary: communities becoming co-creators in a powerful, collective journey to shape a shared vision for the future of our coasts.”

19 May 2025                                              – ends –

Growth plans have been unveiled by the Port of Tilbury’s owners, Forth Ports, to further expand the Thames-based port and industrial complex as it submits an outline planning application to Thurrock Council to redevelop a 100-acre brownfield site located immediately adjacent to Tilbury2 (T2) to support its major markets.

The 100-acre site (the size of 70 football pitches), will create a new port area, to be called Tilbury3 (T3) which, as part of the Thames Freeport, will benefit from tax site incentives to bring investment, trade and jobs to the area.

The planning proposals for T3 can accommodate a range of activities including general industrial storage, warehousing and processing; a construction material and aggregate terminal; container handling and storage; and vehicle storage.

This section of brownfield land is part of the old Tilbury Power Station site and sits adjacent to T2 allowing T3 to share the same vehicle access as T2, connecting to the strategic highway network, and access to the existing river and the rail freight network.

If approved by Thurrock Council, the Port of Tilbury will submit a detailed planning application and will provide the layout, scale and appearance information in further detail, as well as building on the current EIA submitted with the outline consent application, considering the specific environmental aspects of the area. As with other local developments at T2 and the London Distribution Park (LDP), the Port of Tilbury has identified the specific areas of ecological interest in the site area and will implement a similar habitat creation strategy for protected species. This will build on the Port/s success in delivering biodiversity net gain through its developments.

Stuart Wallace, CEO of Forth Ports Group, said: “This is an exciting time for the Port of Tilbury as we submit our plans for Tilbury3 which form part of our growth investment strategy to expand our operations in support of our customer’s growth markets in renewable power, recycling and logistics. T3 will sustain existing roles and create many new jobs; contribute to the local economy; and future proof the Port of Tilbury in supporting the economies of Greater London and the South East.”

Martin Whiteley, CEO of Thames Freeport said: “The Port of Tilbury is a central economic site in the Thames Freeport and its plans to expand Tilbury3 will boost growth and create new good value jobs for local people.  The new development at Tilbury will further support the Thames Freeport ambition to attract international investment and enable regeneration of local communities.”

The proposed delivery of T3 would be phased, with works starting in 2026 with a target of being fully operational by 2030.

15 May 2025                                 -ends-

Forth Ports Limited announces that its Chair, Lord Smith of Kelvin, is retiring from his role at the company and is being succeeded by Robin Watson CBE.

Lord Smith was appointed Chair of Forth Ports in 2015 and is stepping down in accordance with appropriate corporate governance guidelines at the conclusion of his 10-year tenure.

Lord Smith of Kelvin said: “It’s been an honour to have worked with the fantastic team at Forth Ports over the last decade. We have achieved a great deal together and I wish the company and its people further success.”

A marine engineer by training, Robin has more than 35 years of business and industrial experience. He is a Non-Executive Director at Nasdaq-listed Honeywell International and a Shareholder Nominated Director of National Gas. He is also an Operating Partner with Macquarie Asset Management and a Senior Adviser to McKinsey & Co. Robin has extensive boardroom experience of several government and industry bodies, most recently as a board member of the UK Government’s Investment Council and on the Board of the Institute of Directors. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of Wood PLC, having started his professional career in the energy sector, with ExxonMobil. Committed to learning and professional development, Robin is a Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde and is Chairman of Edinburgh Business School’s international advisory board.

Robin Watson said: “This is a great time to chair the board of Forth Ports, which is a significant part of the UK’s ports infrastructure and the country’s nationally significant assets.

“In addition to providing essential support for the UK’s imports and exports, Forth Ports has significantly improved Scotland’s capacity to develop offshore wind and is consequently at the forefront of the renewable energy sector, with plans for further developments as the technologies around the needs of the nascent floating wind sector emerge. Lord Smith leaves the business in great shape and I look forward to working with the board and the management team to continue that positive journey.”

Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive at Forth Ports, said: “As an ambitious and successful ports business, Forth Ports is privileged to have had Lord Smith chair the board for the last 10 years and for Robin Watson to take over the reins.

“Lord Smith has presided over a period of significant growth for the business as we opened a new port at Tilbury on the Thames and two renewable energy hubs at the Ports of Leith and Dundee. The management team and shareholders would like to thank Lord Smith sincerely for his guidance, business acumen and support over the last 10 years and welcome Robin to the role.”

Ends                                                                                                          30 April 2025        

Innovate UK and the UK Department for Transport, together with project partners Forth Ports, Targe Towing, Logan Energy, PlusZero and Waterwhelm, today (13 March) showcased the world’s first Green Hydrogen Shore Power Demonstrator that uses clean, green hydrogen energy to reduce carbon emissions from vessels when berthed in port.

The project integrates innovative water treatment, waste heat utilisation and hydrogen production to provide clean shore power for maritime operations – an important step in the decarbonisation of ports. The highly innovative project sees the large tugs, operated by Targe Towing at the Port of Leith, now powered by green hydrogen when tied up.

This project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK. CMDC4 is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme*, a £236m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.

The event, attended by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and senior stakeholders from industry and the hydrogen supply chain, delivered a live demonstration of the hydrogen-powered system and sessions on clean energy innovation. The event directly relates to the Forth Green Freeport (FGF)** innovation objectives to grow the hydrogen economy and the alternative fuel market across the FGF area.

Using specialist water treatment technology provided by Waterwhelm, fresh re-use water is made from effluent from a nearby wastewater treatment works which is then used to produce green hydrogen at The Port of Leith without compromising local water supplies. Waterwhelm’s leading technology enables water re-use and desalination processes to operate at significantly lower pressure, providing lower maintenance benefits as well as the world’s lowest-ever rate of electricity consumption and carbon emissions for water re-use.

Green hydrogen specialist partners Logan Energy and PlusZero apply their expertise to bring the clean power solution to the port – a significant collaboration that highlights major strides in Scottish hydrogen innovation.  Using a process known as electrolysis, East Lothian-based Logan Energy’s electrolyser technology splits the re-use water into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is then used as a clean fuel for PlusZero Power’s Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HICE) powered generator which will generate green electricity to provide shore power for the tugboats when they are in port, replacing the need for polluting diesel generators.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “This is a world first for Scotland – a Green Hydrogen Shore Power Demonstrator that uses clean, green hydrogen energy to reduce carbon emissions from vessels when docked in port. It is really encouraging to see the Port of Leith leading the way and putting this kind of technological innovation into action.

 “We know that Scotland benefits from a diverse and successful maritime sector that contributes significantly to our economy. What’s been proven here is that innovative use of green hydrogen can help decarbonise ports and shipping and I hope to see this replicated in ports across the UK and beyond.

 “Scotland has the potential to be a leading international hydrogen nation, and the Scottish Government is fully committed to helping the Scottish hydrogen sector develop and grow. We are creating a hydrogen economy that will provide economic benefit and a renewable and low carbon source of energy to help meet our net zero ambitions.”

Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of Forth Ports said: “This is an exciting green fuel transition initiative for Forth Ports and Targe Towing as we work towards our commitment to reduce carbon emissions across Forth Ports’ group operations to become net zero by 2042.  This is the first project of its kind to be demonstrated at a UK port and we are thrilled that Targe Towing has been nominated for the prestigious Tug Innovation of the Year award.”

 Ali Abbassi Monjezi, Director at Waterwhelm, said: “Water and hydrogen both play major roles in our transition to net zero emissions. In this context, the interconnectivity of wastewater treatment sites with hydrogen production plants can enable multiple synergistic gains. Importantly, it future-proofs water supply for hydrogen production at a time of declining water availability due to climate change and population growth. Through this project, we have demonstrated how this interconnectivity can be achieved using Waterwhelm’s technology for water supply to green hydrogen production at The Port of Leith.”

 Craig Stewart, Business Development Director for Logan Energy, said:“The Green Hydrogen Shore Power Demonstrator showcases the vital role green hydrogen will play in achieving global net zero goals. At Logan Energy, we are proud to contribute our expertise and specialist equipment to this groundbreaking project. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with our partners to scale up this technology, enabling more vessels, in more ports, to be berthed and powered with zero emissions.”

David Amos, Managing Director of PlusZero Power, said: “Our mission at PlusZero Power is to deliver clean, green hydrogen solutions that help our customers decarbonise their operations and this project is a significant step towards reducing maritime emissions. We are proud to be collaborating with our partners whose expertise and shared commitment to hydrogen innovation are essential in driving meaningful progress toward a more sustainable future.”

Mike Biddle, Executive Director, Net Zero, Innovate UK said: “This project shows how powerful collaborative innovation can be to prosper from the net zero transition.  By working in partnership with the Department for Transport and companies throughout the UK we’re showing we can grow the UK economy and achieve our climate commitments.”  

 ENDS –