Council commits to Banff and Macduff harbours dredging contract
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Aberdeenshire Council has committed itself to a three-year dredging contract for north-east harbours it operates.
As statutory authority for Banff, Macduff and Stonehaven, the local authority has a legal obligation to provide safe navigation for harbour users.
During a private session the council’s infrastructure services committee heard that maintenance dredging is required on an annual basis at the harbours to avoid excessive sediment from accumulating in the basins.
Officers said that given the nature of the works it was desirable to have a combined contract agreed on a longer-term basis.
Director of infrastructure services Stephen Archer said: “This procurement will enable Aberdeenshire Council to appoint a specialist contractor to carry out maintenance dredging at Banff, Macduff and Stonehaven harbours on a three-year framework contract with the option of an additional 12-month extension, subject to the satisfactory performance of the supplier.
“The proposed framework will provide cost certainty over the term of the contract which, in turn, will enable more accurate forecasting of the requirements for the harbours revenue budget.”
