To take advantage of the global increase in on-board touring holidays, the Firth of Forth is planning a new cruise ship terminal.
Developers hope to secure permission for the first purpose-built terminal on the Scottish mainland at site of the decommissioned Cockenzie power station on the estuary’s south bank, east of Edinburgh.
Developers say that the terminal would be able to accommodate modern liners that are unable to dock further up the Firth of Forth because of their height and width.
It is estimated that Cockenzie could accommodate at least 200 cruise liners a year, bringing around 500,000 visitors to Scotland.
At present only Orkney has a purpose-built terminal for cruise ships in Scotland, although many liners call into Scottish ports around the country.
Apart from the terminal, the plans for 120-acre site that houses the iconic twin-chimneyed Cockenzie power station include an eco-village, a green-themed visitor center dedicated to naturalist John Muir and a retail and business park.
The cost of the entire scheme is expected to be around £300 million, with construction taking 10 to 15 years.