By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Port of Orkney’s newly extended, 385-metre Hatston Pier will be officially opened by Neil Kermode, managing director of European Marine Energy Centre, during a ceremony on 30 April 2013.
The £8.4 million project is part of a three ports development strategy for the marine renewables industry and will serve as a berth for a variety of ships including ferries and cruise ships, as well as offshore vessels.The extension was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Orkney Islands Council.
Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess will be the first to call at the new berth on 17 May.
Orkney is scheduled to receive 74 calls, 62,000 passengers and 20,000 crew members during the 2013 cruise season, while 54 calls have already been booked for 2014.