The biggest liner to use Scotland’s longest commercial deep-water berth tied up today in Orkney. The Caribbean Princess arrived alongside the newly extended Hatston Pier with more than 3,200 pas...
Hatston Pier - new access arrangements to ensure public safety New safety and security measures are now in place following the opening of the extension to Hatston Pier. The pier –...
Orkney Islands Council Division of Marine Services as the Competent Harbour Authority (CHA) is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the 29 piers and harbours located throughout the Orkney Islands under their jurisdiction and operate under the principles set out in the Port Marine Safety Code.
Orkney is firmly placed on the map as the centre for the development of wave and tidal Renewable Energy in the United Kingdom. This places Towage Services based in Scapa, as a key logistical element in the installation and servicing of Renewable Energy devices in Orkney waters.
We hope that within this website you will find information that will assist you in the planning of a visit to any of the port facilities that we operate.
Orkney's range of ports and harbours is both varied and diverse; from the Oil Port of Scapa Flow that hosts many Ship-to-Ship Transfers of crude oil and vessels serving the Flotta Oil Terminal, to the principle harbours of Kirkwall and Stromness that receive on average 70 Cruise Liners (est. 3500 passengers) annually, making Orkney the most popular cruise ship destination in Scotland.
The remote island facilities of North and South Isles receive almost daily services from our fleet of 13 Inter-Island Ferries. Also, Scottish mainland ro-ro ferries operate daily to the ports of Stromness and Kirkwall from Aberdeen, Lerwick and Scrabster, as well as a container service twice weekly from Lerwick and Aberdeen to Kirkwall.
Map
Orkney has 29 Piers, Harbours and Slipways plus 3 Marinas (see the red icons on the map below). Our main ports are Hatston Pier, Kirkwall Pier and Stromness Pier, and our Marinas are located in Kirkwall, Stromness and Westray.
Move the mouse-pointer over a port to display its name.
Click a port to display its details as a pdf excerpt from the Ports Handbook.
Marinas
In addition to the larger vessels using the port facilities, there is a strong commercial inshore fishing fleet located throughout the islands as well as the ever increasing pleasure craft fleet some of which call into our 3 Marinas in Kirkwall, Stromness and Westray. Berthing and landing facilities are provided throughout the islands to meet the needs for these sectors.
The 5th Edition of the Ports Handbook replaces all previous editions and contains information on the many ports and harbours under the jurisdiction of the Orkney Islands Council Marine Services as the Statutory Harbour Authority and the Competent Harbour Authority for the relevant areas.
Information such as Pilotage and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) to the location of visitor moorings is all provided in this 5th Edition with many new images to allow you to visualise the ports as part of your planning for a trip to Orkney's waters.
We hope you find the information useful and assists you in a safe and successful visit to Orkney.
