Highland trust port reports £3.7m pre-tax profits; Port of Cromarty Firth said renewables and the cruise market drove growth at its Invergordon base
A “strong year” has been reported by the Port of Cromarty Firth after it posted pre-tax profits of £3.7million.
The total represents a dip from the port’s “landmark” record-breaking year last year.
But it said the total is a sign that it “continues to perform strongly”, with renewables and the cruise ship market continuing to “drive growth”.
The port released the figures ahead of its annual public meeting on Thursday evening.
The new figures revealed that turnover for the year ending December 2024 was £14.6 million.
Renewables accounted for nearly half (48 per cent) of all revenue – with cruise at 29 per cent, oil and gas at 16 per cent and other activity at seven per cent - with the port saying those totals “underline [its] central role in Scotland’s transition to Net Zero”.
One of the standout achievements of 2024 was the successful completion of the Moray West offshore wind project. The port marshalled 62 extra-large monopiles – the largest ever installed in Europe – through its Invergordon Service Base.
Each monopile measured around 90 metres in length and weighed up to 2000 tonnes, and the port said this success demonstrated its capacity to manage large-scale renewable energy infrastructure and showcased the strength of the local supply chain.
Hugh Mitchell, Port of Cromarty Firth chairman. said: “Once again, we have delivered a strong trading surplus that allows us to reinvest in the Port and support the Highland economy.
“The successful delivery of Moray West shows the capability of our facilities and partners, and demonstrates the Port of Cromarty Firth’s importance to the next generation of renewable energy projects.”
Alex Campbell. Port of Cromarty Firth chief executive, added: “Our achievements in 2024 show how the Port can deliver for both global energy developers and local communities.
“Every project we complete generates jobs, opportunities and investment across the Highlands, ensuring this region remains at the heart of the energy transition.”
Cruise remained another major contributor to the port’s success, with 116 vessels and more than 213,000 passengers arriving during 2024 and contributing an estimated £28m to the Highland economy.
Highlights included the inaugural Highland call of Cunard’s Queen Anne during her maiden British Isles voyage.
The port added that the outlook for its cruise market in 2026 and 2027 “remains strong, reflecting the continued growth and confidence in the region as a premier destination for cruise tourism”.
Across 2024, the port handled 715 ship arrivals, 1011 acts of pilotage and 13.01 million gross tonnes.
The port also received a Distinction Award from the British Safety Council and was also confirmed as being compliant with the Port Marine Safety Code following its 2024 audit.
As an independent Trust Port, every penny of surplus income generated by the Port of Cromarty Firth is reinvested to create jobs, opportunities and long-term benefits for Highland stakeholders.