Montrose Port Authority (MPA) this week welcomed Gillian Martin MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and MSP for Aberdeenshire East, for an insightful visit that highlighted the port’s trailblazing investments in carbon reduction, and how it is driving skills development and innovation for Scotland’s expanding offshore wind industry. 

Cabinet Secretary Martin’s visit was an acknowledgement of MPA’s role as an industry leader in sustainability and an excellent opportunity for the port to demonstrate how it is supporting the Scottish Government’s Net Zero goals. In particular, MPA championed its self-funded shore power service, Plug Montrose, which offers visiting vessels the chance to plug into the grid while at berth, which has now been operational for 18 months. The service allows vessels to turn off their diesel engines, reducing fuel consumption and the release of harmful pollutants and noise. 

Now available at 30% of the port’s berths, the high power capacity of Plug Montrose goes beyond the standard specification seen in many international ports. This allows visiting ships to remain fully operable, including the use of cranes and heavy-duty equipment, and demonstrates MPA’s commitment to leading the way in innovative sustainable technology. In addition, all electricity supplied through Plug Montrose comes with a Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO), reinforcing the project’s green credentials.

MPA was the first port in Scotland to introduce shore power, developed in a 50/50 joint venture with Norwegian specialists Plug. To date, MPA is the only port to self-fund the service, signalling their commitment to investing in sustainability and pioneering the Scottish marine industry’s environmental efforts. 

Alongside its decarbonisation efforts, MPA also shared updates on the restoration of the town’s historic Customs House and Granary Store with the Cabinet Secretary, which is set to host a pioneering skills academy for the renewables sector, which will feature courses targeted at school leavers and entry level workers, supporting local jobs. Developed in collaboration with Angus Council, Dundee & Angus College, and with involvement from wind turbine manufacturer Vestas, the academy will equip workers with the practical, real-world skills needed to support Scotland’s rapidly growing offshore wind industry. With courses targeted at entry level workers and school leavers

Minister Martin was also briefed on MPA’s masterplanning exercise, which includes major developments both at its quays and at the town’s former Petrofac site, Montrose Port Industrial Park (MPIP), which will provide further industrial space to accelerate the offshore wind sector. 

The masterplanning exercise builds on MPA’s role as the operations and maintenance (O&M) base for the Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm – the largest fully operational wind farm in Scotland. MPA is also the chosen O&M base for the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, which is currently under construction at the port. Together, these projects will make Montrose one of the world’s largest offshore wind O&M hubs, cementing its status as a leader in the sector.

MPA CEO Tom Hutchison commented, “It was a pleasure to welcome Gillian Martin to Montrose Port and highlight our role in helping Scotland achieve its Net Zero ambitions, particularly through our self-funded shore power initiative, Plug Montrose. We hope that the success of this project demonstrates how organisations across Scotland and the UK can take the lead in delivering practical, long-term solutions that drive meaningful environmental change.

“Maintaining strong relationships with government is vital as we move forward with our masterplan, and we were delighted to share our vision and ambitions for the port’s future with the Cabinet Secretary.”

The Cabinet Secretary also met with the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm team while at the port to receive an update on the project status and activity which includes recent milestones such as the installation of its offshore substation platform and the first export cable. As part of the visit, Minister Martin was given a tour of the project’s marine coordination centre which is based at Montrose Port.