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Port of Aberdeen - Procurement of Pilot Boat(s)

Port of Aberdeen

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

17 Sep 2026 at 12:54

Award Notice
Tender

03 Nov 2025 at 15:42

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Port of Aberdeen sought up to two new pilot boats to provide safe, reliable pilotage across its harbour areas. The vessels were intended for pilotage duties, hydrographic survey work, push-pull operations and corporate trips. They needed exceptional stability, strength and seakeeping for year-round use in all seasons and weather conditions, while supporting safe, comfortable operations. The requirement also emphasised fuel-saving technology, operational and technological improvements, safety and crew welfare, and less carbon-intensive assets to help reduce Scope 1 emissions and support the port’s Net Zero targets. This was a goods procurement for delivery and operation at Port of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland. The buyer was Port of Aberdeen, acting as the statutory and competent harbour authority. The relevant category was ships and boats (CPV 34500000).

The procurement was cancelled: its single award was marked unsuccessful with the status detail “discontinued”. It used an open procedure under the utilities regime, with electronic submission and English-language bids. The tender deadline was 15 December 2025 at 12:00, with bid opening and the award period beginning at 13:00 the same day. The estimated value was £2.8 million. The proposed contract period ran from 2 March 2026 to 27 August 2027, with no renewal or options and variants not allowed. Evaluation allocated 60% to technical quality and 40% to price. Bidders had to be enrolled in the relevant professional or trade register, provide named staff and qualifications, and arrange a financial guarantee equal to the contract value. Consortiums had to form a legal entity before contracting under Scots law.

This requirement indicates demand for specialist commercial vessel design and shipbuilding capability, particularly for pilot boats operating safely in exposed and changeable marine conditions. A credible future supplier would need to demonstrate robust hull, propulsion and handling performance, strong stability and seakeeping, and the ability to support pilotage, hydrographic survey and push-pull duties from one platform. Experience integrating fuel-saving or lower-carbon technology would be relevant, as would practical provision for crew safety, welfare and comfortable working conditions. Shipyards and marine engineering businesses should be able to manage a complete vessel delivery, provide suitably qualified personnel and meet substantial financial assurance requirements. Suppliers considering future work for Port of Aberdeen should also be prepared for Scots-law contracting and, where bidding as a consortium, to establish a legal entity before contract entry.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Port of Aberdeen - Procurement of Pilot Boat(s)

Notice Description

Aberdeen Harbour Board, operating as Port of Aberdeen, is the Statutory Harbour Authority and Competent Harbour Authority. Safe, modern and efficient pilot vessels are considered of key importance for ongoing successful operations at Port of Aberdeen. Port of Aberdeen has a requirement for up to two new pilot boats, to provide a safe and reliable pilotage service across the port harbour areas. The vessels will be required to carry out pilotage duties, hydrographic survey work, push pull work as required, and corporate trips as required.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Aberdeen Harbour Board, operating as Port of Aberdeen, is the Statutory Harbour Authority and Competent Harbour Authority. Safe, modern and efficient pilot vessels are considered of key importance for ongoing successful operations at Port of Aberdeen. Port of Aberdeen has a requirement for up to two new pilot boats, to provide a safe and reliable pilotage service across the port harbour areas. The vessels will be required to carry out pilotage duties, hydrographic survey work, push pull work as required, and corporate trips as required. The vessels will operate in all seasons and weather conditions so must have exceptional stability, strength and seakeeping abilities with operating parameters that maximise safe and comfortable operations. Port of Aberdeen has ambitious Net Zero targets for 2040, and this procurement process is intended to support the introduction of less carbon intensive assets which will help reduce current and future Scope 1 emissions. Operational and technological enhancements including fuel-saving technology, safety and crew welfare are of key importance.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d931
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088182-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34500000 - Ships and boats

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,800,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,800,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
15 Dec 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Mar 2026 - 27 Aug 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Cancelled
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Port of Aberdeen
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
ABERDEEN
Postcode
AB11 5SS
Postcode Area
Aberdeen
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM5 North Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Delivery Location
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Local Authority
Aberdeen City
Electoral Ward
George St/Harbour
Westminster Constituency
Aberdeen South

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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