Aberdeen (Scotland)

Aberdeen is a North Sea port city in Scotland located between the rivers Dee and Don. By population (around 230,000) the city is ranked the UK's 37th. The company Northlink Ferries provides regularly scheduled crossings connecting Aberdeen with the Northern Isles, Lerwick (Mainland Shetland) and Kirkwall (Orkney Island).

Founded as a fishing port on Dee River's estuary, Aberdeen Harbour (locode GBABD) has continually been improved. It is currently a major cargo port for export goods shipped from UK to Scandinavia (Baltic Sea in general). Major exports include granite, chemicals, fertilizers.

By cruise liners, the Port is usually visited on "Around Britain" itineraries, as well as on some Scandinavian (Baltic Sea) itineraries. Port's cruising season is early-May through early-September. Harbour's water depth (max draft) is 10,5 m (35 ft).

In 2017, the cruise port handled 25 ship calls and 2095 passengers. In 2018, at Aberdeen Harbour were handled 27 cruise ship calls and 3387 passengers (61% increase over 2017). In 2018, NorthLink ferry traffic increased by 5% (to 151,000+ passengers). The total number of ship calls increased from 6775 (2017) to 9266 (2018). The Port's total ship tonnage increased 5%.

In 2018 were continued the works on the harbor's north breakwater - part of GBP 350 million port expansion project at Nigg Bay (completed in 2020). The Harbour's expansion allowed docking of larger passenger ships, also ranking Port Aberdeen as Scotland's largest by berth capacity.

On May 29, 2019, Aberdeen Harbour welcomed its ever-longest vessel - the 175-m/574-ft MV Beltnes (IMO 9432206). The Self Discharging Bulk Carrier arrived to discharge 35000 tons of Norway-quarried fill material at South Harbour (behind the concrete caissons). The operation was part of the GBP 350 million South Harbour construction project, and particularly for creating the two new quays (Dunnottar and Castlegate). Both docks are designed to support activities associated with the booming renewable energy industry.

In late September 2020, Aberdeen Harbour Board awarded Royal Van Oord (1868-founded Dutch company specializing in dredging, land reclamation, and artificial islands construction) with two contracts for Aberdeen South Harbour's expansion. The project included rock removal and revetment (coastal engineering/shore protection) works. South Harbour's expansion (budgeted ~GBP 400M) became the UK's largest marine infrastructure project and was completed in April 2023.

• AIDAaura was the first to visit the expanded South Harbour (on May 1st).
• South Harbour's official opening was scheduled for September 22nd, with the ceremony presided by Her Royal Highness Princess Royal (Princess Anne of Edinburgh, 1950-born as Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise).
• Now, South Harbour comprises four quays (Balmoral, Castlegate, Dunnottar, Crathes) with a combined quayside length of 1 mi/1,5 km.

In 2023, cruise ships were handled at three quays, representing over 40% of Aberdeen's cruise calls.

A short, restriction-free channel provides straightforward harbor access (entry and egress/exiting) and allows vessels to quickly navigate the pilot buoy.

In November 2021, the Port received GBP 0,4 million (~EUR 0,48M) in Government funding for a demo "Feasibility Study for Shore Power" (via a partnership with Connected Places Catapult) for a shoreside power supply facility within North Harbour. The technology allows berthed ships to turn off their engines/diesel generators and instead use electricity from the port's/city's power grid.

In 2023 (May through October) the cruise port handled a total of 43 ship calls (~33000 tourists). For season 2024 were scheduled/booked 55 calls. Stats for 2023 showed that each cruise ship visit resulted in an average of GBP 134 (EUR 154/USD 163) per person in passenger expenditure.

In 2024, the Port had scheduled 60 cruise ship calls (+150% over 2022). In 2025 (April to September) were booked 63 ship berthings with estimated ~40,000 passengers.

Aberdeen is Scotland's oil industry center, university center, as well as one of the country's largest seaside resorts. Best-known tourist attractions include St Machar's Cathedral (15th-century), Mercat Cross (17th-century), Brig o' Balgownie (14th-century, Scotland's oldest bridge), and Winter Garden (Europe's largest indoor garden). Old Town Aberdeen is the "students' quarter", also housing the campuses of two 15th-century universities - King's College (est 1495) and Marischal College (est 1500) - now combined into the University of Aberdeen.

The city is perfect as a base for touring the nearby castles Crathes, Dunnotar, and Slains, as well as the whisky distilleries Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Speyside Cooperage. Other popular sites include the Royal Family's summer residence Balmoral Castle, and the Braemar Castle, which hosts the Highland's largest games every September.

During the mid-18th-mid-20th centuries, the town's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, that sparkles like silver due to its high mica content.

Aberdeen cruise terminal