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Arbroath harbour is set for two major investment projects to keep the busy marina operating smoothly.

Inner harbour gates and a new slipway cradle are on the cards as Angus Council aims to meet demand from leisure and commercial users.

The first project is the replacement of the 75ft slipway cradle – it is the last in operation on Scotland’s east coast.

The cradle can take vessels up to 92ft long and has a lifting capacity of 120 tonnes.

The council owns and operates the slipway, but it is also available to Mackay Boatbuilders.

However, the cradle has been due for replacement for some time.

More than £1.5 million was set aside in the 2025 council budget for capital works at the harbour.

The authority has recently issued tender documents on the Public Contracts Scotland procurement site for the new cradle.

It follows a fact-finding mission to the Isle of Bute.

The harbourmaster and a boatyard representative visited Ardmaleish Boatbuilding Co last year to see the slipway cradles in operation there.

They reported to Arbroath harbour committee the system was a simplified version of the town structure, which would allow for improvements in future design.

The contract notice states the new cradle will have to be constructed to fit the width of the existing slipway track and adds: “The completed works must deliver a fully functional cradle capable of safely supporting vessels using the slipway, in accordance with performance requirements and relevant marine engineering standards.”

Meanwhile, work is also progressing on the future replacement of the inner harbour gates.

The council said that project is due to go out to tender soon.

The gates can be closed to offer protection to craft on the marina’s main pontoons – those remain hugely popular with both locals and visitors.

There are 52 annual berths and a waiting list of 25 boats – in addition, 178 boats used the seven visitor berths during last year’s season from April to the end of August.  The spent a total of 500 visitor nights in Arbroath, an increase of 7% on the previous year.

However, there have been issues with the inner harbour gates in recent years – in 2024, there was a warning money would have to be found for their replacement.

At the time, local councillor Serena Cowdy said: “I can’t over-emphasise how important Arbroath harbour is, not only to the town economy but also to the whole character and distinctive nature of the town and the rest of Angus.

“I appreciate there may have to be significant investment to keep the harbour shipshape, as it were, but I think it’s absolutely worthwhile to do that.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 9 April 2026