Aberdeenshire Council has committed itself to a three-year dredging contract for three North-east harbors it operates, the council said in its latest release.
According to their official statement, as statutory authority for Banff, Macduff and Stonehaven, the council has a legal obligation to provide safe navigation for harbor users.
During private session on Thursday (November 28), the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee heard that maintenance dredging is required on an annual basis at the harbors to avoid excessive sediment from accumulating in the basins.
Commenting the latest news, 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 harbors 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 Harbors Revenue budget.”
Officers said that, given the nature of the works, it was desirable to have a combined contract agreed on a longer-term basis.