Forth Ports names its new riverside berth

Forth Ports has a new deep water riverside berth at the Port of Leith which is now named.

The berth will be named after the former CEO, Charles Hammond, who stepped down in June after 23 years in charge of the business. The new facility is big enough to hold the 88,500 tonne Carvel Legend cruise ship which berthed in Leith recently.

Another outer berth has been built to accommodate commercial support vessels for the offshore renewables sector. This has a heavy lift facility of up to 100 tonnes per square metre with 175 acres of land nearby for marshalling and manufacturing. Leith will be Scotland’s largest renewable hub creating new high quality green jobs.

It is also intended to support Scotland’s transition to net zero carbon emissions, and is a part of the Forth Green Freeport’s strategically located tax sites. These aim to deindustrialise Central Scotland with increased trade. A grand opening ceremony will be held soon.

Stuart Wallace, Forth Ports’ CEO, said: “Since taking on the CEO role at the start of July this has been the easiest decision I’ve faced.

“It was Charles’s vision to build the infrastructure, first in Dundee then here in Leith, to meet the needs of the offshore wind sector, ahead of the market.

“This vision lives on, not just in his name but as we create Scotland’s largest renewable energy hub right here in Leith, helping Scotland and the UK achieve their net zero ambitions.”