Photo by Julia Taubitz
Up to 180 new jobs are being created at Maraen Port of Nigg in the Scottish Highlands to support construction of the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world’s largest offshore wind farm currently under construction, located more than 80 miles off England’s north-east coast. The roles were announced ahead of a visit to the port by Scottish Government Energy Minister Stephen Gethins, who met workers involved in the project.
The new positions, which include project managers, port operators, and mechanical and electrical technicians, will support pre-assembly of turbine components for the Dogger Bank B and C phases, which are then loaded onto vessels for transport and installation offshore. Recruitment has been under way for several months, with the roles expected to run through to the project’s anticipated completion in mid-2028, when it will be capable of powering around six million homes.
A £9bn joint venture
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a £9 billion joint venture between SSE (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%), being delivered across three 1.2GW phases. GE Vernova is supplying all 277 of the wind farm’s turbines, including the 13MW and 14MW Haliade-X models destined for pre-assembly at Nigg. Port of Nigg was confirmed as the marshalling harbour for the B and C phases in May 2026, and forms part of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.
Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said: “Scotland’s ports are exceptionally well placed to support the energy transition and the growth of offshore wind. Maraen Port of Nigg is a key example – boosting regional economic opportunity and supporting supply chain businesses. I am delighted to have the chance to meet some of the workers who are helping to make these projects a reality. These roles highlight the huge opportunities for people and the economy from realising the potential of our offshore wind pipeline.”
Steve Wilson, Offshore Wind Director at SSE Renewables, said the jobs demonstrated the project’s wider economic value. “The creation of up to 180 new jobs at Maraen Port of Nigg demonstrates how Dogger Bank wind farm continues to deliver real economic benefits for Scotland and the wider UK,” he said. “Nigg’s world-class facilities and highly skilled workforce will play an important role in delivering turbine installation activities for Dogger Bank B and C, helping to strengthen the UK offshore wind supply chain and create lasting opportunities for businesses and workers.”
Investment under new ownership
The recruitment drive follows a change of ownership at the port. Japanese trading and investment firm Mitsui & Co and Mitsui OKS Lines bought the deepwater facility for an undisclosed sum last year, taking it on from Global Energy Group chairman Roy McGregor, who had invested more than £120 million in the site since 2011. Operating under the Maraen brand, the port now employs more than 400 people across port operations, fabrication and industrial services, and has previously supported turbine campaigns for SSE’s Beatrice and Seagreen offshore wind farms.
Yoshihiro Hayakawa, chief executive and managing director at Maraen, said the new roles built on that track record. “This work reflects the infrastructure, capabilities and experienced teams we have developed at Nigg to support large-scale offshore wind projects safely and efficiently,” he said. “The sustained investment in the port has created infrastructure that is critical to Scotland’s and the UK’s energy transition. We are committed to continued investment in Maraen Port of Nigg to ensure it remains at the forefront of the energy industry, attracting further projects of this scale.”
A sector under pressure
The jobs boost comes as the North Sea energy industry faces what some experts have described as a “cliff edge”, with green energy jobs not being created fast enough to offset losses in oil and gas. North-east energy leaders have been pushing for reform of the Energy Profits Levy and for the reopening of the Jackdaw gas field east of Aberdeen and the Rosebank field west of Shetland. UK Government figures cited by the Press and Journal show the North Sea contributed just over £3.9 billion in revenue in 2025/26, down from more than £10 billion in 2008/9, as production and profits have declined over the past decade.