Orkney Islands Council has awarded a GBP 6 million (US$ 7.8 million) pre-construction contract to a joint venture between Spanish contractor Acciona Construcción and Welsh civil engineering firm Jones Bros for the first phase of its harbour expansion.

The deal covers Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) services for the proposed Scapa Deep Water Quay (SDWQ), located between Kirkwall and Holm on the east side of Scapa Flow. ECI services will include design development, cost planning and statutory consents. The wider SDWQ scheme would deliver a 600-metre quayside, supporting offshore wind logistics and floating turbine integration. The new facility is intended to address current capacity constraints and accommodate larger vessels. 

The overall projected construction cost for the entire project is GBP 200 million (US$ 263 million). The client indicated that for the second phase of the programme, it may pursue either a design-and-build contract under the NEC4 framework or a build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement.