NIRAS marks royal visit to Peterhead Port

The King toured Smith Quay to hear about Peterhead's plans for the future and its growing role in offshore wind, carbon capture, hydrogen and other emerging energy sectors. The visit also highlighted planned investment in the Port, including the c.£30 million extension to Smith Quay. The 80-metre extension will create a deep-water, heavy-duty quay 200 metres in length, allowing the Port to accommodate larger vessels in support of the energy sector. NIRAS has completed the design, and construction is expected to begin in 2027.

For Andrew, the visit carried a personal connection. He worked on the original Smith Quay project early in his career:

"It was a genuine honour to meet His Majesty The King and to represent NIRAS during his visit to Peterhead. I am extremely grateful to Peterhead Port Authority for inviting me to be part of such a memorable occasion. Smith Quay was one of the first projects I worked on as a graduate. Nearly 20 years later, I'm proud to have led the team that designed its next major extension, and that connection made the day particularly special. It meant a great deal to me personally, but the recognition really belongs to the many NIRAS colleagues who have contributed to our work in Peterhead over the years."

NIRAS has worked with Peterhead Port Authority through successive stages of the Port's development. This includes the design of several quays, significant work on the Port's breakwaters, bay-calming studies, navigation and physical modelling, and masterplanning.

That partnership continues today across a broad programme of work. Alongside the Smith Quay extension, NIRAS is supporting the Port with strategic planning, marine and coastal engineering, and modelling and studies linked to future energy infrastructure, including opportunities for CO₂ import and hydrogen export.

The work draws on NIRAS' marine infrastructure, coastal, environmental, energy and process industry expertise, bringing disciplines together to support Peterhead's evolving role in the energy sector.