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April 29, 2026

The Duke of Edinburgh Visits Montrose Port Authority

A group of adults in formal attire greet each other on a paved area near a building whilst children and adults stand in a queue nearby, holding small flags and watching the scene.
The Duke with Angus Lord Lieutenant, Patricia Sawers and the Lord Lieutenant’s cadet, Aidan Sim.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh visited Montrose Port Authority (MPA) on Monday 27th April 2026. The visit was made in recognition of the port’s significant decarbonisation achievements and position as an integral operations and maintenance hub for offshore wind on the east coast of Scotland.

A group of school children gathers outside near a building, some holding small flags, while the Duke of Edinburgh dressed in a suit and kilt holds a gift that the school children have given him. Several adults and a camera crew are present in the background.
The Duke receiving a gift from Ferryden Primary School pupils.

The Duke was received by Angus Lord Lieutenant Patricia Sawers, together with Lord Provost Craig Fotheringham, Angus Council Chief Executive Kathryn Lindsay, and Montrose Port Chief Executive Tom Hutchison. Pupils from neighbouring Ferryden Primary School also welcomed His Royal Highness, presenting a framed drawing to mark the occasion and waving flags bearing the Earl of Forfar crest, a royal title held by The Duke that is specific to the county of Angus.

Five men in suits stand talking and smiling in a room with large windows. Two tables with Montrose Port Authority banners are in the background. The Duke of Edinburgh has his back to the camera and is wearing a kilt.
The Duke of Edinburgh with (L-R) Niall Murphy, Head of Corporate Affairs at SSE Renewables, William Barratt, Vice President UK Public Affairs at TotalEnergies, Stuart Hood, Director of Business Operations and Performance at SSE Renewables, and Martin Pibworth, CEO of SSE plc.

In the port’s boardroom, The Duke met with port representatives including Chair of the Board Peter Stuart, and Chief Commercial Officer Lynn Sayer, alongside Martin Pibworth, Chief Executive of SSE plc, and senior figures from SSE Renewables and TotalEnergies. The companies are two of the partners behind Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm, Scotland’s largest operational fixed offshore wind project, whose operations and maintenance (O&M) base is located at Montrose Port’s South Quay.

Following a presentation, His Royal Highness walked along the South Quay with MPA and SSE’s chief executives and the Lord Lieutenant, to view construction work underway on the port’s second O&M base for the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm. The Duke then visited Seagreen’s existing O&M base and control room, where he heard first hand from the teams managing the day-to-day logistics of running Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm.

Several men stand and talk in front of large computer monitors in a modern control room. One man is wearing a kilt, while others are in business attire. Screens and office equipment are visible in the background.
In the Seagreen control room.
A group of men in suits and one in a kilt stand in a control room with computer monitors on desks and screens on the walls. Most people are smiling or watching something off camera.
The Duke learning about Seagreen’s day-to-day operations.

Martin Pibworth, Chief Executive of SSE plc, said: “We were pleased to welcome The Duke of Edinburgh to our Seagreen Operations and Maintenance base in Montrose, and to highlight the exceptional work of the teams who operate this world‑class offshore wind asset every day.”

A group of formally dressed people, including a man in a kilt, walk and talk outside an industrial building. A flag is flying from the roof, and others follow behind them.
The Duke of Edinburgh with Montrose Port CEO, Tom Hutchison, and Angus Lord Lieutenant, Patricia Sawers.

Also present was Maria Bos, Chief Executive of Plug, a leading Norwegian shore power company and joint venture partner behind Plug Montrose, the port’s shore power facility. Covering 30% of the port’s berths, the facility enables visiting vessels to switch off their engines and connect to the port’s grid, which supplies electricity backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO). Launched in April 2024, the system was a first for Scottish ports at this scale and has since prevented over 1,122 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of a car driving around the world 212 times.

The Duke then moved to the port’s north side to see the ongoing renovation of the historic Customs House, a B-listed building being transformed into a commercial space for the renewables supply chain and a dedicated offshore wind Skills Academy, the first of its kind in Angus. His Royal Highness was joined by Craig Bruce, Managing Director of Montrose-based Pert Bruce Construction, whose team has brought the maritime heritage building to wind and watertight condition ahead of interior fit-out.

Two men wearing hard hats stand indoors at a construction site, having a conversation. One wears a high-visibility vest, and the other wears a suit jacket and kilt. Construction plans are displayed on the wall beside them.
The Duke with Craig Bruce, Managing Director of Pert Bruce Construction.
Four men wearing hard hats and high-visibility vests stand around a worktable at a construction site. One man, in a suit and white hard hat, speaks to three workers in yellow helmets. Construction tools and papers are on the table.
His Royal Highness at Customs House with members of the Pert Bruce Construction team.
A woman in a dark suit and white hard hat shakes hands with a man in an orange safety vest at Montrose Port during the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit; other people in safety gear are visible in the background.
Lord Lieutenant, Patricia Sawers, meeting Steve Swinley, Project Manager for Offshore Wind at Dundee & Angus College, and students on the Futures in Offshore Wind course.

At Customs House, representatives from Dundee and Angus College outlined the Skills Academy curriculum, designed to train offshore wind technicians, including school leavers and career changers. The entry-level Futures in Offshore Wind introductory course, already underway at the college’s Arbroath campus, has been accredited by Vestas, the turbine manufacturer of both the Inch Cape and Seagreen projects.  The Duke also met two students currently on the course and heard about their ambitions to build careers in the sector.

Three men in formal attire stand behind a glass display case, observing a large yellow and black model ship. One man gestures towards the model whilst the others listen. A fire alarm and red pipes are visible on the wall behind them.
MPA CEO, Tom Hutchison, showing The Duke and Lord Provost, Craig Fotheringham, a LEGO boat model of an anchor handling vessel in the port’s reception area.

MPA Chief Executive, Tom Hutchison said: “It was a privilege to welcome His Royal Highness to Montrose Port. This visit was an important opportunity to demonstrate how we are supporting Scotland’s energy transition while building a lasting legacy for our local community.

“From offshore wind operations and our shore power system to the development of the Skills Academy within Customs House, our focus is on creating sustainable opportunities that will deliver long-term benefits for the people of Angus.”

Four men in suits sit at a round table set with cups, saucers, and glasses of water in a meeting room with large windows and an outdoor view in the background.
Martin Pibworth, CEO of SSE plc, Tom Hutchison, MPA CEO and The Duke of Edinburgh in the MPA board room.

Following his visit to the port, The Duke travelled on to Montrose Community Trust. At the Trust, he was shown plans for the Gable End Project, which will transform the entrance to Links Park Stadium into a modern, accessible facility. The development will include a dedicated dementia centre, digital lab, improved accessible seating and a sensory booth viewing space.

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