Stornoway deepwater terminal bringing in positive results

Stornoway Port has 93 calls and 75,000 passengers this season, a massive rise from 57 and 16,000 pre-Covid. Next year looks set for another significant increase to over 90 calls and 100,000 as Kirsty Hutchison, cruise & marketing manager, explained.

The growth is due to a number of circumstances but the £59 million (€68 million) Deep Water Terminal/berth, being the only one north of Greenock, is proving a major plus. "Ships that went past us can now come in," she explains. but this does not diminish the expedition ship business which is also doing well.

While the smaller ships can come into the town centre, it is now possible to have a large ship on the deepwater berth at the same time. Hutchison comments that the community generally see cruise as a positive: "We receive a lot of queries about how they can be involved."

The season is expected to bring an estimated £7.8 million to the Outer Hebrides economy. This highlights the increasing importance of cruise tourism to the islands' economy, supporting local businesses, hospitality providers, and visitor attractions.

Looking ahead, the port is progressing plans for the next phase of development at the Terminal, alongside the ongoing development of Arnish Road, to further build capacity and resilience across the estate.

"These investments are about more than infrastructure alone. They are about securing lasting economic benefit for the Outer Hebrides, creating opportunity, supporting high-quality employment and ensuring Stornoway continues to play a leading role in Scotland's cruise offering," explained Hutchison.