An offshore renewable energy berth has formally opened at the Port of Leith, Edinburgh, on Scotland’s East Coast. It’s part of a diversified portfolio of operations at the port. The new deep water riverside berth has been named the Charles Hammond Berth, after their recently retired CEO of 23 years.
Designed to host the world’s largest offshore wind turbine installation vessels, the berth is part of an investment of more than GB£100 million into transforming the Port of Leith into a world-class renewables hub. The Charles Hammond Berth was completed last year (2024). 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.
Largest ever offshore wind contract
Forth Ports new deep water riverside berth at the Port of Leith is designed to host the world’s largest offshore wind construction vessels. It was formally opened in late April and has been named the Charles Hammond Berth in honour of the company’s former Chief Executive. Hammond, who stepped down from the role in 2024 after 23 years, unveiled a specially commissioned sculpture at the berth. The structure, created by a local Scottish craftsman, is fashioned from a reclaimed wind turbine blade.
To date, Forth Ports say they have invested more than GB£100 million of private funds into transforming the Port of Leith into a world-class renewables hub. The facility is already playing a key role in supporting Scotland’s energy transition. The Charles Hammond Berth, completed last year, will be instrumental in the delivery of the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm. This will be the Port of Leith’s largest ever offshore wind contract. CEO Stuart Wallace and predecessor Charles Hammond celebrated the official opening (pictured by Jamie Simpson/Forth Ports).
World-class infrastructure
Stuart Wallace, the current Chief Executive of the Forth Ports Group, said the berth had been created 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,” he said. “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.”
Very much retaining its own identity, Leith was a separate civic entity until its amalgamation with Edinburgh just over a century ago. “During my time as Chief Executive, Leith and its port have gone through significant change,” said the former chief executive Charles Hammond. “However, this investment in the new renewables berth is the biggest transformation of the port in a generation. 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.”
Generate jobs and increase trade
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. This latest investment in infrastructure at the Port of Leith will enhance the port’s marine access, infrastructure and vessel assets and includes plant and equipment that will be used to deliver Inch Cape. It will also create up to 50 new and upskilled green energy jobs to support the project. As a designated Green Freeport, Leith has already been at the forefront of developments, including a hydrogen fuel initiative reported earlier this year.
There is a strong presence of construction customers already in the Port of Leith. “We want to expand the Leith construction hub to offer efficient solutions and savings in logistics to the industry,” say Forth Ports. Scottish government sources say the Leith Renewables Hub is part of the Forth Green Freeport’s strategically located tax sites, which aim to reindustrialise Central Scotland. They say it will help generate thousands of high-quality green jobs by increasing trade and supporting the growth of businesses across the Firth of Forth.