Drawing on 60 years of experience, ABP Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer) provides specialist marine environmental research and consultancy services.
UK Dredging (UKD) operates the largest British-owned dredging fleet and specialises in the provision of reliable and cost effective port maintenance dredging services.
Port of Troon’s East Pier. Photo credit: Airborne Lens
Associated British Ports (ABP), has completed a £200,000 upgrade to the East Pier Linkspan at the Port of Troon, ensuring continued support for a reliable lifeline ferry service to the Isle of Arran.
The investment, 100% funded by ABP at no cost to the Scottish taxpayer, focused on the refurbishment of the linkspan’s main hydraulic lifting cylinders – critical pieces of infrastructure that enables vehicles and passengers to board ferries safely and efficiently.
The works were carefully timed to avoid disruption to ferry operations, with ABP’s local team and contractor Laing Marine, working intensively within a tight seven-day window. Thanks to their dedication and close coordination with CalMac, the linkspan was returned to service on schedule, avoiding any cancellations to the vital ferry connection for the island community.
Bryan Davies, Divisional Port Manager at ABP said: “This project demonstrates ABP’s commitment to maintaining critical infrastructure and supporting the communities that rely on our ports. The successful delivery of the linkspan upgrade is a testament to the professionalism of our team and partners.
“We look forward to continuing to provide a high-quality service with minimal disruption and consistently low rates of ferry cancellations from the mainland to the Isle of Arran. This is especially important during key moments for the island like the Arran Food Festival and the Brodick Highland Games, which bring more visitors to the island.”
The Port of Troon continues to play a critical role in supporting ferry operations while the future of Ardrossan remains unknown. In 2024, Troon handled over 90,000 passengers, 31,000 cars and more than 1,200 commercial vehicles, with a cancellation rate of just 2%.
The latest upgrade builds on a £6 million investment in the East Pier Ferry Terminal, which included a new terminal building and car parking facilities. Troon is fully equipped to accommodate the new larger ferries, Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, without the need for further public investment.
ABP’s investment ensures the port remains a reliable gateway for the Isle of Arran and reflects its broader strategy of investing in infrastructure across its network of UK ports.
