Aberdeen Harbour has received a £161,000 ($208,000) grant to fund a three-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the Robert Gordon University, moving the port a step closer to a “digital transformation”.
The Partnership aims to result in a digital decision support system based on live data, enabling the port’s Marine and Operations Departments to maximise the efficiency of North Harbour. This is funded by Innovate UK and the Scottish Funding Council.
The systems devised will be applied to South Harbour, once it opens in 2021. This is expected to add a further £0.9 billion to the Scottish economy.
Michelle Handforth, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Harbour Board, said: “Ports operating in the 21st Century must make use of digital innovations, and we look forward to seeing the benefits this Partnership will bring to Aberdeen Harbour.”
Prof. John McCall of Robert Gordon University added: “My team and I are very excited to have the opportunity to apply our digital expertise to help optimise harbour operations, promote efficiency and to have a real impact on marine carbon emissions.”
Aberdeen Harbour is Europe’s premier marine support centre for the oil and gas industry and the main commercial port servicing the North East of Scotland.
In 2017, Aberdeen Harbour began construction on its £350 million South Harbour expansion into Nigg Bay, to the south of the existing Harbour.
