The 293 metre long Carnival Legend arrived in Leith on Tuesday to try out the new deep water berth.
The 3,000 passengers and crew on board berthed up in the first marine trial.
The new outer berth is intended for the largest offshore renewables support vessels and is not due to be handed over until next month.
Leith will deliver Scotland’s largest renewable energy hub on a 175-acre site – supporting Scotland’s energy transition plans, boosting local supply chains, creating new, high quality green jobs and making a significant contribution to the country achieving its net zero carbon emissions targets.
Stuart Wallace, CEO of Forth Ports, said: “Forth Ports is driving private investment into vital port infrastructure in our ports to ensure Scotland benefits from future low carbon industries, including offshore wind. Although designed and built for offshore renewables, this successful trial of the new deep water outer berth in Leith with the Carnival Legend is a true milestone for our business as we get Leith ready, ahead of the market, for future renewables projects.”
The 88,500 tonne cruise ship is a regular in Leith but has been unable to call into the Port of Leith itself until now. The ship is the length of around 25 buses or three full size footaball pitches with 12 decks above the water. She is more than 15 times the size of the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The Leith Renewables Hub will be part of the Forth Green Freeport’s strategically located tax sites, which aim to reindustrialise central Scotland, generating thousands of high-quality green jobs by increasing trade and supporting the growth of businesses across the Firth of Forth.
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