The funding will support the £2.3m initial ground investigation and design stage for the development.
Led by Stornoway Port, Deep Water South is the second phase of its deep water expansion and is designed to unlock opportunities in offshore wind, strengthen renewable energy infrastructure, and establish Stornoway as one of Scotland’s most strategically important ports for the sector.
The development is expected to create skilled jobs, support local supply chains and help ensure young people can build long-term careers in the islands.
It will also provide a positive boost to the Arnish fabrication yard and its workforce, as well as greater flexibility for loading and unloading.
The existing Deep Water Terminal, opened in 2024, accommodates large cruise liners, freight ferry, offshore renewables vessels, and provides laydown space for storage and industrial use.
With the terminal serving cruise ships in summer, the Port plans to develop Deep Water South, just south of the existing terminal, to enable year-round offshore renewables operations.
The new berth will accommodate a range of floating offshore wind vessels, such as anchor handlers, heavy‑lift ships, blade carriers and barges, and provide associated laydown and storage space to support large-scale construction and operations. It will also be designed to allow integration of wind turbine towers, nacelles and blades onto floating foundations.
As part of Magnora Offshore Wind’s ScotWind bid, the Talisk project has committed to using Stornoway Port for construction and operations, and the berth will enable these activities.
The HIE approval forms part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to invest up to £500m over five years in offshore wind supply chains and port infrastructure – reflecting the national importance of projects such as Deep Water South.
HIE’s investment will contribute to the enabling and detailed design works. Contractor McLaughlin & Harvey has been appointed, with the investigation works due to start in January.
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin said:
“Offshore wind represents a huge economic opportunity for the whole of Scotland delivering jobs and attracting major investment across the country.
“Stornoway’s location, skills and existing port infrastructure make it vital to supporting the delivery of some of the enormous economic opportunities presented by our growing offshore wind industry.
“The proposed expansion of the Deep Water Terminal at Stornoway Port is the latest example of the growth within our offshore wind sector – which is reflected in our updated ambition for offshore wind capacity.
“Increasing our offshore wind capacity ambition to up to 40GW by 2040 reaffirms our commitment to growing the offshore wind sector – giving certainty to investors – and will help to support our national climate ambitions.”
HIE’s investment will contribute to the enabling and detailed design works. Contractor McLaughlin & Harvey has been appointed, with the investigation works due to start in January.
Joanna Peteranna HIE’s director of operations at HIE, said:
“Stornoway is the only port in the north-west to accommodate large vessels, opening opportunities in cruise tourism, offshore renewables and freight.
“Offshore wind represents a huge opportunity for the Highlands and Islands, and for Scotland, and this proposed new berth will further strengthen infrastructure, unlocking even more opportunities for growth.”
Stornoway Port is providing the remaining £463,917 to fund the project. Alex Macleod, chief executive of Stornoway Port, said:
“This is a hugely significant step forward for Stornoway and the wider Outer Hebrides. Deep Water South is about unlocking the next phase of opportunity, supporting offshore wind, strengthening renewable energy infrastructure and ensuring Stornoway is ready to play a leading role in Scotland’s energy transition.
“The approval of HIE’s support will allow us to move towards detailed design and enabling works with real momentum. It reflects strong confidence in the Port’s long-term vision and in the role Stornoway can play in Scotland’s offshore wind industry.
“Our investment alongside HIE underlines our commitment to delivering infrastructure that brings lasting economic benefits to the islands.”
Inbheisteadh de £1.8m anns a’ phròiseact Deep Water South aig Àirinis
Tha Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE) air tasgadh de £1.8m aontachadh anns na tràth-ìrean de phròiseact Uisge Domhainn Deas a tha molta le Port Steòrnabhaigh, a’ comharrachadh ceum mhòr a dh’ionnsaigh nan eilean a shuidheachadh mar mhòr-ionad ro-innleachdail airson gaoth far-thìreach a fhleodradh.
Cuiridh am maoineachadh taic ris a’ chiad rannsachadh air an talamh agus ris an ìre dealbhaidh airson an leasachaidh, air cosgais de £2.3m.
Air a stiùireadh le Port Steòrnabhaigh, tha Uisge Domhainn Deas mar an dàrna ìre den leudachadh uisge domhainn aca a tha air a dhealbhadh gus cothroman fhuasgladh ann an gaoth far-thìreach, bun-structar cumhachd ath-nuadhachail a neartachadh, agus Steòrnabhagh a stèidheachadh mar aon de na puirt as cudromaiche gu ro-innleachdail don roinn ann an Alba.
Thathar a’ sùileachadh gun cruthaich an leasachadh obraichean sgileil, cur taic ri sèinichean solair ionadail agus cuideachadh le dèanamh cinnteach gun urrainn do dhaoine òga dreuchdan fad-amail a leantainn sna h-eileanan.
Tha am Port Uisge Domhainn a th’ ann gu làithreach a chaidh fhosgladh ann an 2024, a’ gabhail ri soithichean mòra cuairt-mhara, aiseagan bathair, soithichean stuthan ath-nuadhachail far-thìreach, agus a’ toirt seachad farsaingeachd cur-sìos airson stòradh agus cleachdadh gnìomhachasail.
Leis a’ phort a’ frithealadh shoithichean cuairt-mhara fad an t-samhraidh, tha am Port a’ planadh air Uisge Domhainn Deas a leasachadh dìreach deas air a’ phort a th’ ann gus obraichean stuthan ath-nuadhachail far-thìreach a chomasachadh fad na bliadhna.
Gabhaidh an acarsaid ùr ri raon de shoithichean gaoith far-thìreach fleodraidh leithid làimhsichearan acaire, soithichean trom-thogail, giùlanairean lannan is bàrcannan, agus farsaingeachd cur-sìos is stòradh a sholarachadh gus taic a chur ri togail agus obrachaidhean mòr-sgèile. Bidh e cuideachd air a dhealbhadh gus ceadachadh do thùran crainn-gaoithe, dìonadairean agus lannan, amalachadh agus a chur air bunasan fleodraidh.
Mar phàirt de thairgse ScotWind Magnora Offshore Wind, tha pròiseact Talisk air gealltainn Port Steòrnabhaigh a chleachdadh airson togail agus obrachaidhean, agus nì an acarsaid na gnìomhachdan sin comasach.
Tha aonta HIE a’ cumadh pàirt de ghealltanas Riaghaltas na h-Alba air suas ri £500m a thasgadh thairis air còig bliadhna ann an sèinichean solair gaoithe far-thìreach agus bun-structar phuirt – a’ nochdadh cudromachd nàiseanta phròiseactan leithid Deep Water South.
Thuirt Gillian Martin, Rùnaire Caibineit airson Gnìomh Gnàth-shìde is Cumhachd:
“Tha gaoth far-thìreach a’ riochdachadh cothrom eaconamach àibheiseach do dh’Alba air fad gu bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh obraichean agus a’ tarraing inbheisteadh fìor-mhòr air feadh na dùthcha.
“Tha suidheachadh cruinn-eòlasach, sgilean agus bun-structar làithreach port Steòrnabhaigh, ga dhèanamh deatamach ann an cur taic ri lìbhrigeadh air cuid de na cothroman mòra eaconamach a tha ar gnìomhachas gaoithe far-thìreach a tha a’ sìor-fhàs, a’ riochdachadh.
“Tha an leudachadh a tha air a mholadh don Tèirmineal Uisge Domhainn ann am Port Steòrnabhaigh mar an eisimpleir as ùire den fhàs taobh a-staigh na roinne gaoithe far-thìreach againn – a tha air a nochdadh san àrd-amas ùraichte againn a thaobh comasachd gaoithe far-thìreach.
“Tha meudachadh air ar n-àrd-amas a thaobh comasachd gaoithe far-thìreach gu suas ri 40GW ro 2040, ag ath-dhaingneachadh ar dealais air roinn gaoithe far-thìreach fhàs - a’ toirt cinnt is dearbhachd do luchd-tasgaidh – agus a’ cuideachadh le taic a chur ri ar n-àrd-amasan gnàth-shìde nàiseanta.”
Cuiridh inbheisteadh HIE ris na h-obraichean dealbhaidh mionaideach a dhèanamh comasach. Tha an Cunnradair McLaughlin is Harvey air am fastadh, leis na h-obrachaidhean rannsachaidh a’ tòiseachadh san Fhaoilleach.
Thuirt Joanna Peteranna, an stiùiriche obraichean aig HIE:
“Is e Steòrnabhagh an t-aon phort san iar-thuath a tha comasach air gabhail ri soithichean mòra, a’ fosgladh chothroman ann an turasachd chuairtean-mara, stuthan ath-nuadhachail far-thìreach agus bathar.
“Tha gaoth far-thìreach a’ riochdachadh cothrom mòr don Ghàidhealtachd ’s na h-Eileanan, agus do dh’Alba, agus neartaichidh an acarsaid ùr mholta seo am bun-structar nas motha, a’ fuasgladh fiù barrachd chothroman airson fàs.”
Tha Port Steòrnabhaigh a’ solarachadh an £463,917 a tha a dhìth airson a’ phròiseict a mhaoineachadh. Thuirt Ailig MacLeòid, àrd-oifigear Port Steòrnabhaigh:
“Is e ceum fior chudromach air adhart do Steòrnabhagh agus Innse Gall ann am farsaingeachd, a tha seo. Tha Deep Water South mu dheidhinn a bhith a’ fosgladh na h-ath ìre de chothrom, a’ cur taic ri gaoth far-thìreach, neartachadh bun-structar cumhachd ath-nuadhachail agus dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil Steòrnabhagh deiseil airson prìomh àite a ghabhail ann an eadar-ghluasad cumhachd na h-Alba.
“Ceadaichidh aonta do thaic HIE dhuinn gluasad a dh’ionnsaigh dealbhadh mionaideach agus obrachaidhean le fìor ghluasad air adhart, a chomasachadh. Tha e a’ nochdadh misneachd làidir ann an lèirsinn fad-amail a’ Phuirt agus anns an àite as urrainn do Steòrnabhagh a choileanadh ann an gnìomhachas gaoithe far-thìreach na h-Alba.
“Tha an inbheisteadh againn còmhla ri HIE a’ dearbhadh ar dealais a thaobh bun-structar a lìbhrigeadh a bhios a’ tarraing bhuannachdan eaconamach maireannach gu na h-eileanan.”