Port of Inverness set to take on more staff this year as bosses outline yearly report covering the financial year ending March last year with turnover for the period at £1.73 million
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Operators at the Port of Inverness are hoping to expand the workforce in the coming months.
Bosses were speaking at the organisation’s annual meeting where they presented the yearly report covering the financial year ending March last year.
This year marks the 175th anniversary of it becoming a trust port and there is evidence of such activity dating back to the 13th century.
When asked about planned recruitment for the port, chief executive Sinclair Browne said that they already were a “tight-knit team” and they were hoping to employ more workers over the next six to 12 months. He added: “We are looking to increase the number of staff, very much so.”
He said there were no exact numbers of how many new jobs this would be at the moment but they currently employed nine people and they were a “key part” of the operation. “It’s giving them the opportunity of stepping into the business that has been running for 175 years,” he added.
In recent weeks, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the port has been responsible for due diligence in checking for any Russian ownership of vessels entering its area.
Mr Browne said they had history in dealing with Russian ships but this represented only four or five a year.
He said ship ownership was very complex, adding: “The UK government has put it on us to ensure due diligence.
“Port users are well versed at dealing with that.”
They are a stakeholder in the Cromarty Firth Freeport Consortium and a bid to bring one of the two Scottish green freeports to the area with the winners expected to be announced in August.
George Macleod, the port’s chairman, said the main items which went through the port for the 2020-21 financial year were related to fuel imports, timber, renewable energy, dry bulk cargoes, smaller cruise ships carrying up to 60 passengers, and project cargoes.
He said that during the pandemic the cruise ships had “ground to a halt” but the Highlands were not hit as hard as other areas by the virus. He added: “We’ve been very fortunate when it comes to that. The staff have done a fantastic job.”
Turnover for the period was £1.73 million; the surplus stood at £408,000; there were 199 ship visits; there was a goods throughput of 655,000 tonnes; long-term liabilities were down by 60 per cent; and 25 per cent of the turnover was reinvested in the business.
