We’ve seen numerous ports down south adversely affected over recent times, what with Brexit red tape causing chaos to exports and queues of lorries backed-up at docks. Back home in Scotland, Aberdeen Harbour has not fared much better.
The harbour, which is the main commercial port in northeast Scotland, is estimated to contribute £1.5 billion to the wider economy and support 12,000 jobs, however with Coronavirus severely affecting travel and a reduction in traffic from the oil and gas industry its turnover and profit have fallen significantly.
As seen with the rail and aviation industry, passenger numbers travelling through the port were down considerably, falling by more than 60 per cent to 64,000.
Aberdeen welcomed 27 cruise ships in 2018, with tourists keen to explore the city and surrounding area. Last year, no cruise ships used the port, demonstrating just how much of an impact Coronavirus has had on the tourism industry.
Yes, Serco’s Northlink ferry services continued to operate throughout the various lockdowns, however reduced passenger levels due to travel restrictions and the need for physical distancing placed a real strain on the ferry provider’s coffers.
More worrying will be the decrease in oil and gas traffic in and out of the port. The Aberdeen Harbour Board revealed that the number of vessels using the facilities was down 35 per cent to around 6,100 in 2020.
Again, Coronavirus can go some way in explaining this drop in numbers. Huge uncertainty faced the oil and gas industry last year due to a significant reduction in demand and companies reduced production as they waited to see what the pandemic would bring.
The likes of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell cutting 330 jobs from its operations in the North Sea was the tip of the iceberg and with many other operators in the sector following suit, the impact was certainly felt within Aberdeen Harbour.
As we come out of lockdown, the numbers of support vehicles for the oil and gas sector using the facilities will likely increase once more, but with many of the major players within the industry increasingly looking at renewable energy as a potential source of revenue, how will Aberdeen Harbour ensure its future?
In the short term, the harbour will see growing numbers of large vessels involved in oil and gas decommissioning projects in the North Sea, but that won’t last forever. With a transition already beginning to take shape across the industry to renewables – and investment underway to turn the North East into a green energy hub – the harbour will still have a major part to play in the future of energy in the area.
Aberdeen demonstrated not so long ago its growing popularity as both a cruise and tourism destination and this will surely recover as the world returns to normal. With aggressive marketing and promotion through VisitAberdeenshire – and an investment of £150 million to regenerate the city centre approved as part of a £214m capital programme plan for 2021/22 earlier this year – tourism is seen as a major cash cow by the local council.
The masterplan would capitalise on the built and natural assets of Aberdeenshire, and it is likely to be more in demand in a post-Covid-19 recovery phase as people seek safe, outdoor, wildlife, and active experiences.
To ensure it is in the mix to benefit from an increase in tourism, Aberdeen Harbour is pinning its hopes on a £350m expansion currently underway, which will see the port be able to accommodate vessels up to 300 metres in length, allowing it to further tap into the cruise trade and bring in large numbers of visitors each year.
Outwith tourism, an extended port will also be a significant asset to Scotland in the future, allowing us to leverage international trading opportunities in a post-Brexit world. With excellent rail links for freight, Aberdeen Harbour would be perfectly placed to benefit from increased trade around the North Sea.
With Aberdeen Harbour having been in operation for nearly 900 years, making it the oldest continuously operating business in Britain, it has seen many booms and busts, however with this new £350 million expansion project nearing completion, I believe the docks will continue to thrive for many generations to come.
Affordable PCR Tests Aim to Open Summer Holidays
With travel to countries on the designated ‘green list’ now officially allowed, a holiday abroad in 2021 may be more realistic than we once thought.
However, travel is likely to look significantly different to how it did pre-pandemic, and chances are it’s not going to be quite as straightforward for the foreseeable future.
Although tourists from Scotland will be able to visit certain countries without the need to quarantine on return, many countries still require proof of a negative COVID test upon entry. The price of these tests can be up to £250 each. On top of flight and hotel costs, this additional expense will render holidays abroad completely out of the question for a huge portion of the population.
The prospect of missing out on travel for two summers in a row may be too much to handle for some, especially after such a difficult year, which is why I was pleased to hear about an innovative healthcare business which has launched a more affordable option for those desperate to get away.
Everything Genetic Ltd has unveiled an at-home PCR test service which will cost only £99 in a bid to make holidays more affordable for families this summer.
Consisting of three PCR tests – including the necessary ‘Fit To Fly’ and Day 2 and 8 kits required by the majority of destinations – the holiday test kit package provides travellers with the reassurance of a highly accurate test and enables them to secure the necessary documentation.
If we’ve learned anything throughout the course of the pandemic, it’s that nothing is certain, and guidance can change at any time, but hopefully this more affordable option will give hope to those still holding out for some summer sun.
To find out more, go to www.everythinggeneticltd.co.uk.
It Made Me Laugh
As uncertainty around foreign travel rumbles on, it’s understandable that so many are choosing to staycation in Scotland this year.
You’d be forgiven for thinking this option would also be cheaper, but it turns out you can actually get to Malaga for less than a trip to Dundee.
Twitter user Tam Wilson had this realisation when he compared the £40.50 he paid for his off-peak return train ticket from Glasgow to Dundee with bargain return Ryanair flights from Glasgow to the Spanish city, which came in at just £35.
Tam was less than impressed and his hilarious tweet which showed the price difference between the two journeys accompanied with a bewildered “Aye. Sound mate. Nae bother.” has racked up thousands of likes and responses.
It Made Me Weep
Lockdown has been no laughing matter for a huge number of businesses, but comedy clubs have been particularly hard hit.
Indoor events have suffered tremendously over the last year, and social distancing mean many will continue to struggle even upon reopening.
Mark Tughan, CEO of Glee Club, which operates a comedy venue in Glasgow as well as others across the UK, has become the latest to speak out about the challenges he’s facing.
While comedy clubs have been able to reopen in most parts of Scotland, restrictions remain tighter in certain areas, making the future very uncertain for these types of venues.
We all need a good laugh more than ever so I sincerely hope it isn’t long until we can get out and support our local venues once again.
