waterman

Aberdeen Harbour expansion
progresses to next stage
The potential expansion of Aberdeen Harbour has been designated as a nationally
important development in Scotland’s National Planning Framework (3). This is
due to the support that the port provides to the country's oil and gas sector, the
fact that it provides international and lifeline connections to the Northern Isles,
and the role it plays in the wider economy of North East Scotland.
At present, the existing Aberdeen Harbour is constrained by its location
in managing vessel fleets of ever increasing size, and this situation has
led the Aberdeen Harbour Board to propose an expansion which involves
the dredging of Nigg Bay, approximately 1km south-east of the existing
Aberdeen Harbour, to create the appropriate depth to accommodate
commercial shipping. Two breakwaters would be constructed across the bay
and the addition of approximately 1,400 m of operational quay. Additional
infrastructure would include car parking, tanks for water, fuel, a gatehouse
and welfare facilities.
Extensive Environmental Impact Assessments
The Aberdeen Harbour Board puts the protection of the natural environment
as a top priority. To this end, our Infrastructure & Environment team have,
in collaboration with Fugro EMU, recently completed an Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed expansion plans for the Harbour.
We assessed the terrestrial elements of the proposals, including: traffic and
transport (with Fairhurst); noise and vibration; air quality; ground conditions
and contamination; terrestrial ecology; and surface water drainage and
flood risk. The terrestrial ecology assessment involved assessments of the
potential impacts on otters, breeding birds and wintering birds.
The Aberdeen Harbour Board puts the protection of the natural environment as a top priority. To this end,
our Infrastructure & Environment team have, in collaboration with Fugro EMU, recently completed an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed expansion plans for the Harbour.
Images courtesy of
Wireframe
Our team consulted extensively with Scottish Natural Heritage in order to
agree a series of viewpoints to assess the likely impacts to the visual view
of the development and its surroundings to determine where it should be
conducted from. There were also assessments of the impact on the seascape
in addition to the landscape. Wireline photo montages were produced in
order to facilitate the assessment of the development and of the future
predicted ships in the expanded harbour.
The socio-economic impact of the development has also been assessed in
collaboration with Biggar Economics.
Involvement on all levels
In addition to the large scale EIA, there has been wide ranging public
consultation by the Aberdeen Harbour Board. The 2 year-long consultation
helped to evolve the proposal into its current form.
Contact: Gavin Spowage, Principal Consultant, Infrastructure & Environment
gavin.spowage@watermangroup.com
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