Port of Inverness reports ?1.7m of turnover at annual general meeting
The Port of Inverness held its annual general meeting today, reporting its annual results from March 2022 to 2023.
Held at the Kingsmills Hotel, the Trust Port made £1.7m of turnover during the 12 months, saw 191 ship visits and 550,000tonnes of goods throughput.
The Port also re-invested £250,000 back into the business with £25,000 of surplus profit. The green freeport award[2] was also spoken about with Inverness Port playing a key role in the allocation of it.
Sinclair Browne, chief executive of the Port of Inverness said: “We were delighted when the award was announced in January.
“We’ve submitted our outline business case[3] to both governments. We hope to have that feedback back on the week December 11. We then have to do a full business case.”
Speaking about the role Inverness will play within the green freeport, he said: “Our main expertise is onshore renewables and our close proximity to the Great Glen and the pump storage down there.
“There's a big agenda for Inverness – we have a proactive and positive role to play in that.”
The main cargoes at the Port over the course of the year were: fuel imports, timber, renewable energy, dry bulk cargoes, cruise ship, and project cargo.
The annual general meeting was also an opportunity to discuss business in general throughout the region. Colin Marr, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce provided a keynote speech, addressing the challenges that businesses in the region currently face.
He said: “Staff shortages are impacting 100 per cent of the businesses that [Inverness Chamber of Commerce] has talked to.
“The housing shortage is also still ongoing. There are not enough houses for people to live. People are getting jobs but then can’t take them on as they can’t find anywhere to stay. We need to see collaboration on this, especially with the jobs coming in with the green freeport.
“Our transport in the Highlands also needs upgraded! The A9 and the A96 needs upgraded and we still don’t have a timescale on this. Our rail system is also worse than it was in 1999.”
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References
- ^ Click here to sign up to our free newsletters! (www.inverness-courier.co.uk)
- ^ green freeport award (www.inverness-courier.co.uk)
- ^ business case (www.inverness-courier.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.inverness-courier.co.uk)