A local firm with strong Highland roots has been appointed to the critical pre-construction phase of works at a developing marine facility in the north of Scotland.
Port of Cromarty Firth has awarded a GB£1.5 million pre-construction contract to Scottish civil engineering firm RJ McLeod, marking a key milestone in the £111 million “Phase 5” expansion project. The expansion will increase the footprint of the Port’s existing nine-hectare Quay West facility and provide essential infrastructure to support the fast-growing offshore wind sector in the North Sea, including both fixed-bottom and floating technologies.
Under the contract, RJ McLeod will develop the detailed design, procurement strategy, and construction programme in preparation for the main construction phase. The firm was appointed through the SCAPE Scotland Utilities Works and Services Framework. The pre-construction phase is scheduled to be completed by summer, with full construction expected to begin in autumn 2025.
Track record secured Government funding award
Glasgow-based RJ McLeod brings over seven decades of experience in delivering complex infrastructure across Scotland, including sea defences, harbours, breakwaters, and other key marine assets. Its recent projects include upgrades to Ullapool harbour and main street, a development that earned the Best Overall Project award at the Scottish Civil Engineering Awards.
The contract award follows a major funding boost from the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which confirmed an award of £55.7 million from the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS). The funding will enable the Port to develop a bespoke Floating Offshore Wind Integration and Precommissioning facility, positioning it as a critical hub in the UK’s offshore wind supply chain.
From oil industry support to economic regenerator
Established in 1973, the Port of Cromarty Firth (PoCF) is a Trust Port created to serve the offshore oil and gas industry in the North Sea. As a Trust Port, it has no shareholders; instead, 100% of its profits are reinvested into the port to benefit a wide range of stakeholders. These include the local community, port users, employees, businesses, and government. Situated in a naturally sheltered deep-water firth (river estuary) in the Highlands, PoCF has become a critical economic engine for the region, contributing an estimated £275 million annually to the Highland economy and supporting high-value employment in the sparsely populated region.
Beyond its commercial role, PoCF is also the statutory harbour authority, responsible for ensuring safe navigation and environmental stewardship in the Cromarty Firth. It has successfully balanced these economic and environmental duties for over five decades. In 2023, the Port was designated as part of one of Scotland’s Green Freeports—a Scottish and UK Government initiative offering tax and customs incentives to stimulate investment, drive innovation in clean energy, and create fair, sustainable jobs. This designation enhances the Port’s strategic importance as a national hub for the transition to a low-carbon economy, particularly in offshore renewables.
Expansion to support hundreds of jobs and national energy goals
The Phase 5 expansion is expected to generate between 170 and 320 construction jobs. Upon completion, the enhanced port facilities will be capable of supporting the assembly, integration and operation of floating offshore wind components. This is an increasingly vital sector as the UK transitions to Net Zero. The project is central to strengthening regional employment, energy resilience, and industrial capability.
Port of Cromarty Firth provided this CGI video flythrough (video is mute)
The Port of Cromarty Firth has been consistently identified in industry reports as the most strategic site for a national floating offshore wind hub. Key advantages include its deep, sheltered waters, direct North Sea access, and a mature local supply chain capable of supporting the large vessels and heavy infrastructure needed for offshore wind development.
Strategic importance of the project
“The Port is delighted to appoint RJ McLeod, a Scottish company with a proven track record in delivering major infrastructure,” said Alex Campbell, Chief Executive of Port of Cromarty Firth. “This is our most ambitious expansion yet, and we’re excited to be working with a firm that understands the local context and national importance of the project.” The news comes shortly after WorldCargo News reported details of the Forth Ports Leith Renewables Hub initiative in Edinburgh.
Campbell added that the Port of Cromarty Firth contract was made possible through UK Government funding, which underlines the strategic value of Phase 5. “This investment will catalyse economic growth and job creation by ensuring key elements of floating offshore wind projects—such as manufacturing, assembly, and servicing—take place here in the UK. It also unlocks wider opportunities across the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.”