Montrose Port Authority, a support and service hub for the energy industry, has put Angus on the map as a tourist destination, after welcoming its first ever cruise liner to the port.
Greeted by Scottish celebrity piper, Louise Marshall, the MS Hebridean Sky docked at Montrose Port on August 17, carrying 103 passengers as part of an Epic Iceland tour offered by Noble Caledonia.
The tourists had the opportunity to visit some of the north-east’s key attractions such as Glamis Castle and Arbroath Abbey, while exploring the famous bird-watching hub, Montrose Basin, and teeing off at one of the world’s oldest golf courses.
Nik Scott-Gray, chief executive at Montrose Port Authority, said, “As our £7.5 million ($9.6 million) quayside expansion project continues, we’re thrilled to herald our move into the cruise ship market.
“The cruise industry plays a key role in the country’s economic growth. In 2017, Cruise Scotland recorded a total of 761 cruise ship visits to Scottish Ports, carrying more than 680,000 tourists to regions throughout the country. It is a key market for the Port to expand into and for the north-east to benefit from.
“With our quayside expansion due to be complete by summer 2019, we will be able to accommodate larger vessels, building on our current cruise activity and contributing further to Scotland and the north-east’s growth.”