Annual Public Meeting
25 September 2025
Catch up on the Annual Public Meeting
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Annual Public Meeting and to those who shared questions.
If you weren’t able to watch live, the full recording is now available here.
We appreciate your interest in the Port and look forward to keeping you updated on our work throughout the year.
Your Questions
Answered
What ambitions has the Port for further community involvement and support?
As a Trust Port our primary focus is on economic growth. We believe the biggest difference we can make to the local community is by creating well-paid, exciting, green jobs and careers for people who live and work in the area. This was the concept behind the Green Freeport and why Port of Cromarty Firth led this project, which is now already delivering jobs through the new Sumitomo cable factory (amongst others) and through more investments still to come. This focus drives most decisions at the Port. Our next challenge is to deliver the Phase 5 expansion, which will we hope secure jobs and inward investment for the next 2-3 decades and give young people growing up in the area a choice to live locally and build their careers.
What are the plans for cruise ships for the next 5 years in Invergordon and what investment is planned in relation to the cruise industry?
The Port’s objective is to grow this critical sector in line with continued growth in the cruise tourism industry itself. PoCF needs to be a multi-user facility to ensure we do not rely too heavily on one sector. It’s a critical part of the Port’s business and a vital contributor to local businesses and communities (with an estimated £28M direct spend in the Highland region in 2024).
In 2025 we are scheduled to welcome 97 cruise ships. There are 107 cruise ships currently booked for 2026 and 109 for 2027. (Please note that this remains subject to change whilst the industry confirms their plans.)
For the 2026 season we are planning investment in baggage and personnel search equipment to facilitate more turnaround calls (where passengers join the cruise in Invergordon). These visitors bring additional benefits to the local area, as passengers typically stay before or after their cruise.
How can the Port enable greater access to the shore at Invergordon?
The Linear Park area to the west of the Port is fully open to the public, as is the beach area to the east of the Port, beyond the Bannerman Pier. Access to the working Port site itself is limited for security and health and safety reasons, as it is for most major Ports in Scotland.
What plans do you have to provide shore power to berthed vessels including liners and rigs in order to eliminate diesel exhaust gasses and engine noise?
The Port is exploring a number of decarbonisation options for visiting vessels. At this stage, it is not clear which technologies will prevail. For example, some ports have installed shore power at significant expense, and battery technology is progressing so quickly that it may overtake shore power as the favoured option.
We have undertaken studies into LNG, solid-oxide ammonia fuel cells and are currently supporting a feasibility study into anhydrous ammonia. These are all possible options and we are trying to remain ahead of the market, so we can be ready as they shift to cleaner fuels.
Whatever we do, the Port will have to be led by the international vessel market. The ships that visit the Port typically operate globally and, as they shift to clean fuels, they will need an international refuelling infrastructure to support them. (An equivalent is if you chose an electric car, you would need the refuelling stations on your usual drives to ensure you could make the switch.)
Does the PoCF and the Green Freeport have plans to install solar power on the many large building roofs in the Firth?
PoCF has a number of ways in which it is addressing climate change. By far the largest impact we can have is through facilitating the construction of windfarms and decarbonisation of oil and gas platforms.
For the Port itself, we have a strategy that sets out our commitment and we are also signatories to the Green Freeport Net Zero and Sustainability Charter.
We have considered solar panels and there were a number of technical problems, however we will continue to assess. Current activities include running 5 electric vehicles, purchasing 100% renewable energy, reducing fuel use on our pilot boats through operational efficiencies, and involvement in two Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition projects researching future clean fuels.
I work as a tour guide for coaches from the cruise-liners, and the lack of facilities on the actual pier (Quay West) is a disgrace. No shelter, one portacabin toilet a lengthy walk away, and no toilets or shelter for passengers waiting for tours or the shuttle-buses. Can we have a concrete list of what the PoCF does specifically for Invergordon itself?
Two ladies and two gents toilets were rented specifically for this season and are positioned next to the Invergordon Tourism Association (ITA) booth on Quay West (where passengers pick up the shuttle bus). There is also a portaloo which does not have steps. For 2026 cruise will be back on Berths 2-4 and guides will again have access to the toilets at Queen’s Dock. Passengers will be able to access the toilets next to the ITA hut. We understand your complaint about the lack of shelter and hope this can be resolved in the medium-term, subject to budget availability.
In terms of what PoCF does for Invergordon and our other communities which border the Firth, the list is very long and includes the following:
- The Port attracts in the cruise ships, oil rigs, subsea vessels and offshore wind projects that spend money with people and businesses in the area (e.g. cruise passengers are estimated to spend £28M in the area over the course of a season). The market is competitive and we have to work to attract the ships that use the Port and ensure we look after them so they return.
- As an organisation, we spend money with local businesses, buying services and products. As a single example, we spent over £250,000 hiring coaches for the cruise business this year.
- We create jobs for local people: 1 in 6 jobs in the Invergordon Travel to Work Area are related to port activities.
- PoCF has a long-standing partnership with DWP/Job Centre Plus to help people in long-term unemployment find work, for example we run a security officer training programme.
- We engage with local primary and secondary schools in a number of ways. In September we did two beach cleans with primary schools as part of the MSC Great Big British Beach Clean.
- PoCF part-funds a Traffic Enforcement Officer for cruise visits and the Port paid for the pedestrian crossing.
- We also have a Community Sponsorship Programme which is open to the 9 communities that border the Firth (including Invergordon), sponsoring projects such as Blooming Gardeners and Ross & Sutherland Rugby Club.
- Specifically in 2025, our staff have undertaken local litter picks, we actively promoted Invergordon High Street businesses by producing a map for all cruise passengers, filming retailers and promoting them on social media, and we have supported Invergordon off the Wall, promoting the mural trail, funding an app and raising awareness via a series of social media films paid for by the Port.
Port of Cromarty Firth
Port Office, Shore Road
Invergordon,
IV18 0HD
Tel: 01349 852308
Email: port@pocf.co.uk
© Copyright Port of Cromarty Firth 2024 | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions