Montrose Port Authority (MPA) celebrated a landmark achievement at the prestigious 2024 Courier Business Awards, where it was awarded both the Transition to Net Zero Award and the coveted Business of the Year Award.
Hosted by Jackie Bird at the Apex City Quay Hotel in Dundee, the awards ceremony gathered over 700 members of the Tayside and Fife business community to honour exceptional achievements across industries.
Montrose Port’s win as Business of the Year marked a unanimous decision by the judging panel, who described MPA as an operation that "excels on every level".
This top accolade emphasises the port’s robust growth, innovative services, and commitment to becoming Scotland’s first carbon-neutral port.
MPA’s CEO, Tom Hutchison, expressed pride in his team, stating: “We’re incredibly privileged. This award is a testament to our fantastic team, whose hard work and ambition propel us forward every day.
"Together, we aim to make Montrose and the entire east coast of Scotland proud.”
In recent years, MPA has transformed from a traditional cargo port into a dynamic hub of sustainable innovation and economic growth.
Investments in infrastructure, such as the multi-million-pound restoration of the historic Customs House into a commercial space and the launch of the Plug Montrose shore power facility, have set the port apart as a leader in decarbonised port operations.
As the primary operations and maintenance (O&M) base for Seagreen, Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, and the hub for the upcoming Inch Cape wind farm, Montrose Port has positioned itself as a key player in Scotland’s renewable energy sector.
Further expanding its capacity to support offshore energy, shipping, and logistics, the Port Authority recently acquired 45 acres of industrial land, nearly doubling its footprint to better serve the region’s growing needs.
Pioneering Sustainability: Transition to Net Zero Award
The Transition to Net Zero Award recognised MPA’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact. Joined by Maria Bos, CEO of Plug, MPA’s Tom Hutchison accepted the award in recognition of the port’s groundbreaking Plug Montrose shore power initiative.
This self-funded, £1million joint venture project with Plug enables berthed vessels to connect to the port’s grid that provides electricity with Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO), reducing reliance on diesel generators and cutting emissions significantly.
Since its launch earlier this year, the facility has achieved over 200 tonnes of CO2 reduction, setting a benchmark for sustainable port operations in the UK.
Additional sustainability initiatives that contributed to MPA’s Transition to Net Zero award include the use of alternative fuels, use of electric vehicles (EV) and installation of EV infrastructure on the port estate, repurposing buildings and an old lifeboat to contribute to the circular economy as well as appointing Dr. Turgay Köroğlu as decarbonisation engineer through a partnership with Strathclyde University, driving the port’s green energy and environmental quality initiatives forward.
Balancing economic growth and environmental stewardship
Montrose Port’s achievements stand out as a model for balancing economic growth with sustainable practices. MPA continues to strengthen the local economy by supporting job creation, community initiatives, and regional development, while simultaneously championing environmental preservation.
Montrose Port Authority is energised to continue its journey of innovation and sustainable growth. As it advances projects to support the energy transition, MPA is committed to sustaining its position as a leader within Scotland’s maritime sector and to contributing meaningfully to the nation’s net-zero goals.