Montrose aiming to be "go-to" port for wind industry following further major investment

The company is planning to develop a wind farm of up to 72 turbines located 15km off the Angus coast.

It follows the selection of the port in a similar role for Seagreen Wind Energy.

The wind farm, owned by Red Rock Power and ESB, will create an initial £5.2 million investment and more than 50 long-term skilled jobs during its lifetime, and produce enough energy to power more than one million homes.

The decision was marked by a visit to Montrose Port by local MSP Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, where she was met with senior figures from Inch Cape and Montrose Port to discuss their plans.

The Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm has applied to the UK Government for a long-term energy contract in its latest ‘Contracts for Difference’ allocation round, with results expected this summer.

If successful, this will trigger the 18-month investment programme in the port, with more than 50 long term skilled operations and maintenance jobs to follow.

Initial work on the infrastructure upgrade will begin next year, with the construction of offices and warehouse at the port’s South Quay. A dedicated pontoon for crew transfer vessels will also be constructed along with the installation of dock-side cranes and a communications mast, with the latest technologies in vessel fuelling considered as an additional investment.

Works are expected to be complete and the base operational by early 2025 to coincide with the commissioning of the first turbines at the offshore wind farm.

Ms Gougeon said: “The Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, which will provide sustainable career-long jobs for people in Angus, is a great example of this.”

Captain Tom Hutchison, CEO and Harbourmaster at Montrose Port said: “We are delighted to welcome Inch Cape to Montrose as part of our growing offshore wind portfolio. We aim to become the go-to port for the industry and believe that with our geographical position, deep water berths, and sheltered quays we are ideally placed to do so.”

“As a Trust Port we are driven to develop our offering to benefit our community of stakeholders both now and for future generations to come. We have already started to see the benefits offshore wind can bring to our regional economy and we are proud to be championing Montrose and the wider Angus region as a bastion for green energy.”

Adam Ezzamel, project director of the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm said that the new infrastructure will make Montrose Port a key element in the project.

He continued: “We plan to utilise the very latest technology to reduce carbon emissions from vessels to operational base designs, operating and maintaining some of the biggest wind turbines in the world deployed in water depths of up to 57metres.

“If we succeed in the current Contracts for Difference round, Inch Cape will deliver millions of pounds of new investment, not just in Montrose but, with other key suppliers and facilities in Scotland and beyond, supporting local communities and a transition to a greener economy.

"The UK is already a world leader in offshore wind and this project would increase this lead – delivering long-term skilled jobs and enough electricity to power more than a million homes.”