Heavy downpours gave way to bright sunshine just as a small delegation arrived at a viewing platform overlooking Port of Aberdeen’s new South Harbour; one day prior to construction completing on 1.5km of additional deepwater quayside serving the city and region.
But this was no sneak peek of an otherwise deserted site just before operations began: beneath the group were several huge vessels already hard at work.
On the far side of the harbour was an offshore installation vessel carrying large components for a new turbine to be assembled at sea; closer to the group were two vessels: one being loaded with scrap materials ready for processing, and another laden with wood chips bound for Scandinavia.
Operations at Aberdeen South Harbour actually began just over a year ago, we were told, and the new facility can accommodate vessels up to 300m in length; a significant increase on the 165m limit in the North Harbour.
Final preparations are currently being made for the official opening of the new facility by HRH The Princess Royal on 22 September.