A major public investment of up to £24 million is set to transform Kishorn Port in the West Highlands, enhancing its role as a strategic hub for Scotland’s burgeoning offshore wind sector. The funding, provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), will expand the port’s dry dock and reclaim land to enable the manufacture of floating offshore wind foundations—a move expected to support up to 1,500 jobs once the site is fully developed.
Kishorn Port, historically significant for its role in the oil and gas industry, is being repositioned to serve the renewables market. The planned upgrades will allow the port to attract and support major projects in floating offshore wind, a sector seen as vital for Scotland’s energy transition and economic growth.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes described the investment as “one of the most significant public investments in our port infrastructure in decades.” She emphasised:
“It is crucial to ensuring Kishorn Port and the communities it supports can reap the benefits of the global renewables market. It is a clear signal from the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise that will give investors the confidence to invest millions more in the area’s wider infrastructure, economy and people.”
HIE chief executive Stuart Black highlighted the potential for substantial job creation and community resilience:
“The facility has provided skilled jobs in a rural area for many decades and this is likely to grow significantly, which is vital to community resilience in a priority west coast location. The proposed dry dock expansion and land reclamation will greatly enhance the port’s capacity to support offshore wind and the contribution it makes to Scotland’s economy. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure this significant additional funding for the region and look forward to continuing to work with Kishorn Port Ltd as the project develops.”
Alasdair Ferguson, director of Kishorn Port Limited, called the funding a “significant milestone in the continuing development of Kishorn Port.” He added:
“The port expansion will provide the catalyst for the support and creation of jobs within Wester Ross and the wider Highlands, benefiting communities across the area. We’re grateful to Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Government for their support. With the quarry on site, Kishorn Port is ideally suited to concrete manufacturing of floating offshore wind sub-structures, with local content, laydown, marshalling, and long-term integration and assembly possible at the port as part of the wider project in the long-term.”
Part of a Wider Investment Strategy
The Kishorn Port upgrade is part of a broader Scottish Government commitment of up to £500 million over five years to develop the country’s ports and offshore wind supply chain. This strategy aims to ensure that businesses and communities across Scotland maximise the benefits of the growing renewables sector.
