{{Short description|Port in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK}} {{About|2=the distillery located there|3=Port of Leith distillery|4=the tram stop|5=Edinburgh Trams|6=the whaling station in South Georgia|7=Leith Harbour}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}{{Infobox port | name = Port of Leith | caption = The Port of Leith and Granton Harbour | image = The_Port_of_Leith_and_Granton_Harbour_-_geograph.org.uk_-_4184145.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = Scotland | country = United Kingdom | native_name = | native_name_lang = | location = Scotland | coordinates = {{coord|55|59|N|3|10|W|display=inline,title}} <ref name="fap-1">{{cite web |title=Port of Leith, U.K. |url=https://www.findaport.com/port-of-leith |website=www.findaport.com |publisher=Lloyd’s Register / OneOcean |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref> | locode = GBLEI<ref name="locode-1">{{cite web |title=UNLOCODE (GB) – United Kingdom |url=https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/gb.htm |website=unece.org |publisher=UNECE |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref> | opened = | operated = Forth Ports Limited<ref name="operated">{{cite web |title=Leith |url=https://www.forthports.co.uk/our-ports/leith-edinburgh/ |website=forthports.co.uk |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref> | owner = Forth Ports Limited<ref name="operated"/> | type = Deepwater commercial / enclosed docks | berths = 13<ref name="fap-1"/> | draft_depth = {{convert|9.75|m}}<ref name="fap-1"/> | cargotonnage = over 1 million tonnes annually<ref name="operated"/> | website = https://www.forthports.co.uk/our-ports/leith-edinburgh/ }}
The '''Port of Leith''' is a major seaport facility on Scotland’s east coast, serving the city of Edinburgh. It is operated by Forth Ports, and is Scotland’s largest enclosed deep-water port.<ref name="operated"/> Much of the port is built on reclaimed land, with the shore moving northwards over the years.
From the 1990s onward, Leith has seen major regeneration. Projects include the Ocean Terminal shopping complex (with the permanently berthed royal yacht {{ship|HMY|Britannia}}) and the Victoria Quay offices of the Scottish Government.<ref name="places" />
==History== Leith has been a port since the Middle Ages, with early quays along the Water of Leith.<ref name="places"/> It is one of the oldest ports in the UK, with a recorded mention {{Circa|1329.}}{{Sfn|Paxton|Shipway|2007|p=156}} Early development included quay walls along the banks of the Water of Leith, however these were inadequate for the growing shipping trade in the late 18th century. The civil engineer John Rennie was employed to design new docks and extended piers.{{Sfn|Paxton|Shipway|2007|p=156}}{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=17}}
=== 18th century === The remains of a {{Circa|1781}} Navy Board Victualling Yard for arming and supplying ships were discovered between Baltic Street and Constitution Street, during archeological excavations in 2024.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-08-16 |title=Lighting Up Leith: Recent excavations into Leith’s Industrial Past |url=https://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/history-blogs/lighting-up-leith-recent-excavations-into-leiths-industrial-past/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=The Cockburn Association |language=en-GB}}</ref> At this point, the coastline roughly followed the route of modern-day Tower Street, just to the north of the Naval Yard.<ref name=":2">{{Cite map|last=Ainslie|first=John|title=plan of Edinburgh and Leith|url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/216390258|via=National Library of Scotland online maps|publication-date=1804}}</ref> During the excavations, remains of a sea wall were exposed. This was constructed from unbonded boulders and likely dates from the early-to-mid-18th century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Watt |first=Steven |last2=O'Leary |first2=Sam |date=2024-10-11 |title=1-5 Baltic Street & 7-27 Constitution Street, Phase 2, Leith, Archaeological Strip, Map and Record: Data Structure Report |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/issue.xhtml?recordId=1244677 |journal=AOC Archaeology unpublished report series |language= |doi=10.5284/1135004}}</ref> The yard would have supplied Navy ships moored in Leith Roads (a safe anchorage off the coast of Leith, protected by Inchkeith) with various foods, beer, and other provisions using a lighter barge.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Arthur |first=Andy |date=2022-11-11 |title=The thread about a curious hole in the Naval Yard wall and what it has to do with “Mons Meg” |url=https://threadinburgh.scot/2022/11/11/the-thread-about-a-curious-hole-in-a-wall-its-former-life-as-part-of-the-leith-naval-yard-and-what-it-has-to-do-with-mons-meg/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Threadinburgh |language=en-GB}}</ref>
A 1789 "plan for the improvement of Leith Harbour" proposed by Robert Whitworth shows a new basin further up the Water of Leith, to the east of the modern West Bowling Street Bridge. It included two basins around {{Convert|200|by|500|ft|abbr=on}} with adjacent warehouses. This would have been linked by a canal and a lock to the north of Sheriff Brae to the tidal harbour.<ref>{{Cite map|last=Whitworth|first=Robert|title=A plan for the improvement of Leith Harbour|date=1789|url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/216390357|via=National Library of Scotland online maps}}</ref>
=== 19th century === In 1809, a Martello tower was built to defend the port against Napoleon. This circular defensive structure was over {{Convert|30|ft|abbr=on}} tall, with walls about {{Convert|8|ft|abbr=on}} thick, constructed of Ashlar from Rosyth quarry.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=19}} It is locally known as the {{Lang|sco|Tally Toor}}. It is about {{Convert|1.2|km|mi|abbr=in|frac=4}} north of the Bernard Street bridge, originally built on a rocky outcrop at the edge of the Leith Sands known as the Mussel Cape Rocks, it was later surrounded by land reclamation for the port expansion in the 1960s.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|pp=16–19}}<ref name="OS1853map">{{Cite map|title=Edinburghshire, Sheet 2|publisher=Ordnance Survey|url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/74426700|access-date=2025-12-06|year=1853|via=National Library of Scotland online maps|scale=Six inch to the mile}}</ref>
The 1804 plan of Edinburgh and Leith by John Ainslie, shows proposed new docks connecting the harbour in the Water of Leith to Newhaven. This comprised two wet docks {{Convert|250|by|100|yd|abbr=}} to the north of the Citadel. It also showed a larger wet dock {{Convert|500|by|100|yd|abbr=on}} which linked to New Haven dry harbour with a proposed new entrance,<ref name=":2" /> although these were never built.
The first wet dock opened in 1806,<ref name="history-1806">{{cite web |title=Leith (Edinburgh) |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/127330 |website=Vision of Britain |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref> with construction of the East Dock taking around six years. This was followed by the West Dock, constructed 1810–1817. Both were {{Convert|750|by|300|ft|abbr=on}} with an entrance {{Convert|30|ft|abbr=on}} wide and {{Convert|13|ft|abbr=on}} deep at {{Abbr|MHWN|mean high water neaps}}.{{Sfn|Paxton|Shipway|2007|p=156}} The cost to construct the docks and entrance lock was £300,000.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=15}} These docks were later infilled, and are now used as parking for the Scottish Government's Victoria Quay building. The entrance lock still remains, to the north of the pub "Teuchters Landing", which uses part of the swing bridge over the lock as a beer garden.<ref>{{Cite map|title=OpenStreetMap|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/55.977637/-3.171433|access-date=2025-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalgetty |first=Lee |date=2023-07-17 |title=First look as historic Edinburgh bridge reopens as pub beer garden with walkway |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/best-in-edinburgh/historic-edinburgh-bridge-reopens-pub-27338889 |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=Edinburgh Live |language=en}}</ref> A ship building yard was located on land to the north of the West Dock, with two graving docks.<ref name="OS1853map" />
Around 1824–1829, the western breakwater and pier was built, and the eastern pier extended by {{Convert|1500|ft}}. Later land reclamation infilled around the western breakwater,{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|pp=16–19}} and this is now the site of Ocean Terminal complex.
In 1833 a significant expansion of the dock was proposed by the Superintendent of the Docks and Engineer to the Commission, Mr Peter Whyte. This would involve reclaiming vast areas of foreshore for new docks and quaysides within a wall {{Convert|4400|ft|mi km|abbr=on}} long, plus deepening the access channel to the open sea.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=20}} Located to the north-east of the existing port, this foreshore was sandy, drying at low spring tides but covered by up to {{Convert|16|ft||abbr=on}} at high water. An area around {{Convert|350|acre}} was enclosed by a sea wall or reclamation embankment. This was hand packed rubble, about {{Convert|22|ft|abbr=on}} wide at the base, and {{Convert|9|ft|abbr=on}} at the top, the seaward side faced with concrete blocks. It was eventually completed in June 1896.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Whyte |first=Peter |date=1900 |title=Leith Docks Reclamation Embankment |journal=Extract from Minutes of the Proceedings of Civil Engineers |volume=CXXXIX |via=Kerr (1981) pp. 21–23}}</ref>
In 1846, construction of the Victoria Dock commenced to the north of the West and East Docks, along with further expansion of the West and East Piers.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=19}} These extended in a north-westerly direction past the Martello Tower, to the location of the modern sea lock.<ref name="OS1853map" /> The Victoria Dock opened in 1852, at a cost of £180,000.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=19}} This was also {{Convert|750|by|300|ft|abbr=on}}, and had an entrance {{Convert|60|ft|abbr=on}} wide and {{Convert|20|ft|abbr=on}} deep at {{Abbr|MHWN|mean high water neaps}}.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=19}}
In 1859, the Prince of Wales Dry Dock was completed on the eastern side of the harbour. This cost around £60,000, and was {{Convert|382|ft|abbr=on}} long with an entrance {{Convert|70|ft|abbr=on}} wide. By 1981 it was no longer in use as a dry dock.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=19}}
Between 1862 and 1869 the Albert Dock was constructed on the east side of the port. The dock was {{Convert|1100|by|450|ft|abbr=on}} with an entrance lock {{Convert|350|by|60|ft|abbr=on}} and a depth over the sill at {{Abbr|MHWN|mean high water neaps}} of {{Convert|22|ft|abbr=on}}. The dock was opened by the steamship "Florence". It was designed by James Rendel of London and George Robinson of Leith, and cost £350,000. Construction required the reclamation of some {{Convert|84|acre}} of the Leith Sands, formerly used for the Leith Races horse racing.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=19}}
Between 1871 and 1874, the Victoria Swing Bridge was constructed to provide better access between the east and west sides of the docks.{{Sfn|Paxton|Shipway|2007|pp=161–162}} This carried two railway tracks, plus walkways either side.<ref name=":0">{{Cite map|title=Edinburghshire I.16|date=1914|publisher=Ordnance Survey|via=National Library of Scotland online maps|scale=25 inch to the mile|url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/82877211|access-date=2025-12-07}}</ref>
In 1874, work began on a large land reclamation project and construction of the Edinburgh Dock, located to the east of the Albert Dock. Around {{Convert|100|acre}} was reclaimed, with the construction of a sea wall of great strength., completed in 1877. The Edinburgh Dock was C-shaped, overall {{Convert|1500|by|650|ft|abbr=on}} with a tongue in the middle projecting from the eastern end {{Convert|1000|by|250|ft|abbr=on}}. This had a dry dock at the western end {{Convert|300|by|40|ft|abbr=on}}. The construction cost £500,000 and the engineers were again Rendel and Robertson. The dock was opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|pp=16–17, 20}}
In 1896, the Alexandra Dry Dock was opened. This was {{Convert|335|by|48|ft|abbr=on}}, designed by Whyte.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=20}} It is located just to the south of the Prince of Wales dock.<ref>{{Cite map|title=NT2776NW - A|date=1948|publisher=Ordnance Survey|scale=1:1250|url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102735050|via=National Library of Scotland online maps}}</ref>
In 1897, work began on the Imperial Dock, the largest in the port, at {{Convert|1900|by|550|ft|abbr=on}}, with an entrance lock {{Convert|340|by|70|ft|abbr=on}}, and depth of the sill at {{Abbr|MHWN|mean high water neaps}} of {{Convert|27|ft|abbr=on}}. It was also designed by Whyte, and completed in 1904 at a cost of £700,000.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=20–21}} The Imperial Dock is located to the north of the Albert Dock, with a channel linking the two.<ref name=":0" />
=== 20th century === In 1912, the Imperial Dry Dock opened. This is located at the north-western corner of the Imperial Dock, and is {{Convert|550|by|70|ft|abbr=on}}.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=21}}
In 1938, the Leith Dock Commission, a fully autonomous trust to control the affairs of the harbour, was set up by an act of Parliament. This facilitated future development. Previously, the affairs were managed by commissioners from Leith and Edinburgh city councils, but with control dominated by Edinburgh.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=17}}
In 1936, work began on enclosing the Western Harbour with long breakwaters, completed in 1943.<ref name="places"/> This increased the size of the docks by a further {{Convert|230|acre}}.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=21}}
The Imperial Dock grain elevator, constructed in 1933–34 and extended in the 1950s–60s, reflected the port's importance in bulk grain handling.<ref name="places">{{cite web |title=Port of Leith: Overview of Leith, Port of |url=https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst7845.html |website=Scottish Places |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref> Despite opposition from groups including the Cockburn Association, the category B listed building was demolished in 2021, to enable a new renewable energy hub.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLean |first=David |date=2021-10-01 |title=Abandoned Edinburgh landmark set to disappear from the city's skyline forever |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/history/abandoned-edinburgh-landmark-set-disappear-21733630 |access-date=2025-12-07 |website=Edinburgh Live |language=en}}</ref>
A deep-water sea lock was added in 1968.<ref name="places" /> This was completed in 1969, and transformed the whole harbour into a deep water port for ships with a draught of up to {{Convert|35|ft|abbr=on}}. The lock was 850 ft long by 110 ft wide (259 by 34 m), built within a cofferdam {{Convert|1700|ft|abbr=on}} long.{{Sfn|Paxton|Shipway|2007|pp=158–159}} The lock was opened on 28 May 1969 by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.{{Sfn|Kerr|1981|p=20}}
=== 21st century === In 2018, former Northern Lighthouse Board vessel ''MV Fingal'' opened as a boutique hotel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MV Fingal |url=https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2815/mv-fingal |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=National Historic Ships}}</ref> It is moored in the Alexandra Dock (former dry dock).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-08 |title=Leith Docks permanent new home for luxury floating hotel |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/leith-docks-permanent-new-home-for-luxury-floating-hotel-283267 |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Edinburgh News |language=en}}</ref>
First Stage Studios took over a large warehouse at the port, having secure £1m investment from Screen Scotland in 2020. The facility was formerly used to build the Pelamis Wave Energy Converter, and parts of ''Avengers: Infinity War'' were filmed there.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Screen Scotland greenlights Connery-led studio First Stage with £1m investment|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/screen-scotland-greenlights-connery-led-studio-first-stage-with-1m-investment/5147966.article|website=Screen|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en|first=Geoffrey|last=Macnab}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=First Stage Studios to open in Leith|url=https://www.filmedinburgh.org/News/First-Stage-Studios-to-open-in-Leith-56570|website=Film Edinburgh News|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>
Between July 2022 and July 2023, the ''MS Victoria'' was docked in the Port of Leith, and used to house between 700 and 1000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Traynor |first=Sian |date=2022-07-11 |title=Edinburgh to see 700 Ukrainian refugees housed on huge ship at Leith docks |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-see-700-ukrainian-refugees-24457176 |access-date=2025-12-07 |website=Edinburgh Live |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 July 2023 |title=Last Ukrainian refugees leave Edinburgh cruise ship |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-66171006 |access-date=2025-12-07 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 22 March 2023, 35 people were injured when the US Navy owned ship RV ''Petrel'' tipped over whilst in the Imperial Dry Dock. Twelve people were treated on site by the Scottish Ambulance Service, with 23 taken to hospital, nine whom were discharged by the next morning. Wind gusts of {{Convert|38|to|44|mph|km/h m/s|abbr=on}} had been recorded that morning.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Suter |first=Ruth |last2=Cameron |first2=Lucinda |date=2023-03-23 |title=Fourteen people remain in hospital after ship tipped over in Leith dry dock |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/leith-docks-incident-fourteen-people-29530462 |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}</ref> alt=A modern quayside at a harbour entrance on a grey day, to the right large parts for offshore wind foundations are stacked behind the harbour building. At the bottom, the stone blocks of the old breakwater are visible, with waves breaking on them|thumb|Charles Hammond Berth from the end of the Western Harbour breakwater In April 2025, a new deep-water quay opened to the north of the sea lock. This is named the Charles Hammond Berth after the former CEO who had retired in 2024 after 23 years. It is designed to handle the large vessels used in the construction of offshore wind farms. The quayside has a load capacity of 100 tonnes/m<sup>2</sup>, with {{Convert|175|acre}} of adjacent space for logistics and marshalling.<ref name="berth">{{cite web |title=Offshore renewable energy berth at Port of Leith formally opened|url=https://www.forthports.co.uk/latest-news/offshore-renewable-energy-berth-at-port-of-leith-formally-opened/|website=forthports.co.uk|access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Scotland gets new offshore energy facility|url=https://www.vibewire.com.au/?p=212984|date=2025-05-08|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-AU|first=Simon|last=Walton|website=VibeWire Magazine}}</ref>
==Facilities and operations== Leith handles cruise ships, breakbulk, dry bulk cargo, containers, and project cargo. It has no oil tanker facilities.<ref name="fap-1"/> Vessels of up to {{DWT|50000|disp=long}} can be accommodated.<ref name="operated"/> The port also has two dry docks and supports mobilisation and demobilisation for the offshore energy sector.<ref name="operated"/>
The port was once the busiest on the east coast of Scotland, handling over 4.6 million tons of cargo in 1913, including over 3 million tons of exports. In the 1940s, there were over 1000 dockers and 100 crane operators employed in the Port of Leith; by 2019 this had dropped to around 19. The bulk cargo handled by the port reduced in the 1970s with the advent of containerization. The restricted road to Leith access meant much of the container traffic was instead handled at Grangemouth.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |date=May 2019 |title=Leith Docks |url=https://www.livingmemory.org.uk/content/Thelma15_LeithDocks.pdf |journal=Thelma |publisher=The Living Memory Association |publication-place=Edinburgh |issue=15}}</ref>
In the 1980s, the port was used to support the construction of north sea oil pipelines. The steel pipes were unloaded, lined with cement at the port, and then shipped out to the oil fields.<ref name=":3" />
In 2023, Leith became the first large mainland Scottish port to provide shore power connections for ships.<ref name="spower">{{cite web |title=Port of Leith Becomes First Scottish Mainland Port with Shore Power |url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/port-of-leith-becomes-first-scottish-mainland-port-with-shore-power |website=Maritime Executive |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref>
In December 2024, Forth Ports announced a £50 million investment linked to the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm, creating around 50 jobs and upgrading infrastructure.<ref name="inchcape">{{cite web |title=Forth Ports announces £50 million investment in Leith having secured gamechanger contract with Inch Cape |url=https://www.forthports.co.uk/latest-news/forth-ports-announces-50-million-investment-in-leith-having-secured-gamechanger-contract-with-inch-cape/ |website=forthports.co.uk |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref> The port will be used to handle the wind turbine foundations, while the turbine assembly will be managed from Dundee.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scotland’s historic offshore wind milestone - how £50m investment landed at Port of Leith|url=https://www.scotsman.com/business/scotlands-historic-offshore-wind-milestone-how-ps50m-investment-landed-at-port-of-leith-4907017|website=The Scotsman|date=2024-12-12|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en|last=Reid|first=Scott}}</ref>
==Ownership and strategy== The port is owned and operated by Forth Ports Limited, which also manages ports at Grangemouth, Rosyth, Dundee and Tilbury.<ref name="operated"/><ref name="ports-group">{{cite web |title=Our Ports |url=https://www.forthports.co.uk/our-ports/ |website=forthports.co.uk |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref> Leith forms part of the Forth Green Freeport and plays a central role in Scotland’s offshore renewables supply chain.<ref name="inchcape"/><ref name="berth"/>
==See also== * Leith * Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh * Forth Ports * Western Harbour, Edinburgh * Royal Yacht Britannia
==References== {{reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{Citation |last=Paxton |first=Roland |title=Civil engineering heritage. Scotland - Lowlands and Borders |date=2007 |place=London |publisher=Telford |isbn=978-0-7277-3487-7 |last2=Shipway |first2=Jim}}
* {{Citation journal |last=Kerr |first=John |title=Historical aspects of Leith Docks |date= |journal=Our engineering heritage : three notable examples in the Edinburgh area : Dean Bridge, Leith Docks, Forth Rail Bridge |publisher=Institution of Civil Engineers. Edinburgh and East of Scotland Association |publication-place=Edinburgh |year=1981 |editor-last=Paxton |editor-first=Roland}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.openhistoricalmap.org/#map=15/55.98140/-3.17260&layers=O&date=2025-12-30&daterange=1750-01-01,2025-12-31 Development of the Port of Leith over time on Open Historical Map] {{DEFAULTSORT:Port of Leith}} Leith Category:Buildings and structures in Edinburgh Category:Transport in Edinburgh Category:Economy of Edinburgh Category:Enterprise areas of Scotland