Macduff gets new slipway

The new £3.9 million slipway unveiled recently at Macduff Harbour in Scotland will safeguard jobs and reverse the decline in the harbour’s fortunes. Located at the Macduff shipyard, the new fully-automated facilities will mean improved safety, larger boat capacity, more working space and faster throughput. The previous system, which had been in place for over 70 years, had far exceeded its planned working life. The outdated equipment and working practices, including the use of heavy timber props to support boats, were considerably out of step with modern safety requirements.

The key features of the slipway modernisation include four new vertical-arm boat handling cradles, each of 350 tonne capacity; widened slipway entrance and repair yard to accommodate larger vessels; alterations to the main slipway rails and a new haulage carriage. In addition the yard has installed a new large capacity boat haulage winch in a purpose-built building and a portable winch system for side movement of boats on cradles.

The total £3.9 million cost of the new slipway was made up of grant aid amounting to £1.7m and a £2.2m council contribution from its capital plan.