Peterhead harbour:

For further information on different aspects of the harbour click on the following links :
Cargo and Developments
Facilities
Services
Approaches

General Facilities and Berths
Peterhead is home to the UK's number one - and one of Europe's largest white-fish ports, Peterhead Harbours, which is managed by Peterhead Port Authority

The port provides the North East of Scotland's best facilities and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sales at the fish market commence at 7.30am daily, Monday to Saturday. The market is located at the entrance to the harbour opposite Albert Quay.

Three harbours (North Harbour, South Harbour and Port Henry) all at the northern side of the bay complex provide 2,4000 metres of berthing face. Albert Quay, opened officially in 1992, provides an additional 340 metres of deep water berthing. Full fishing industry support is provided; two ice factories, net repair facilities, box-leasing, the full range of engineering repair and services, dry-dock, slipway, box loading berths, fuel and freshwater supplies.

Increasingly Important Role

In addition to its position as the UK's busiest white-fish port, Peterhead enjoys an increasingly important role in the trade of pelagic species of herring and mackerel, particularly with the processing plant at Albert Quay. This led to Peterhead being the UK's busiest pelagic port in 2006.

The Harbour Trust has a healthy record of reinvesting in the industry and in 1991 completed the £18 million Albert Quay which offers deepwater berthage and enables it to handle the changing fishing industry which inevitably moves towards bigger and increasingly sophisticated vessels. Such ships had previously only been able to enter the Harbour at high tide. A new oil storage facility was constructed in 1994 at Keith Inch connected to fuel bunkering and intake points at Albert Quay. This enables fuel to be imported and exported directly.

Stage three - the construction of new North and West quays (Merchants Quay) was completed during 1999.

Development of the shore-based aspects of the fishing industry have also witnessed major developments in the early stages of the Nineties. A large pelagic factory was opened, on land reclaimed by the port, in 1991 as part of the South Bay development. A cold storage and freezing plant was also opened in 1991.

A new box-washing plant was also built as well as three engineering workshop units at Port Henry.

As well as new facilities for the fishing fleet, Albert Quay also provides more deep water quayage for general cargo vessels and for offshore support craft complementing the Peterhead Bay Authority and ASCo trades. Albert Quay has never been closed due to weather.

Peterhead also handles sizeable quantities of barley, grain, rape seed, fuel oil, coal and fertiliser. Significant upgrading of the ship repair facilities in the Slipway and Dry Dock took place in 1995. Junction Canal Bridge was renewed in 1997/98 assisted by PESCA funding from the EU. Upgrading works to the existing fish market are also being assisted by PESCA funding.

The new fully refrigerated fishmarket was opened in 2001.

The Smith Embankment Development due to commence in 2008, will provide additional 625ft quay space for pelagic vessels and a 328ft breakwater extension to Albert Quay.