Scotland’s only council-owned dredger has made its inaugural journey from shipyard to the sea.
Moray Council – responsible for the maintenance of six harbors – is the only local authority in Scotland to own its own dredger.
The £2.5 million, 250 tonne vessel was floated off at high tide from the Macduff Shipyard construction shed in Buckie and berthed at a quay within the harbor on Wednesday, April 6th 2016.
The new vessel has been designed to access smaller harbors and will undertake dredging work for other councils around Scotland’s coast.
Council Convener Allan Wright commented the event saying that the launch of the Moray Council dredger ‘Selkie’ is the latest major strategic development to be delivered by the council.
“ It is an investment in the future of our harbors and a sound business venture as we anticipate dredging contracts from local authorities around Scotland ,” said Wright.
The Council has just released a time-lapse video of the MV Selkie being taken from the shed to the slipway in a 2-hour operation.