PETERHEAD PORT UNVEILS MAJOR MODERNISATION DRIVE

Peterhead Port unveils major modernisation drive with new processing units, E-auction platform, and £3.5M ice plant. Read Fish Focus’ latest publication focusing on seafood processing.

Peterhead Port Authority supports a wide range of fish processing activity throughout its extensive estate, and in line with its trust ethos is always seeking improvements to infrastructure and service provision.

It is currently seeking interest in the rental of six modern fish processing units at the former Mapco facility at Gerries Yard close to Europe’s largest fish market, which will be available in early 2026.

They will replace the units currently provided at Albert Street and Volum Street, which will be cleared in due course. No specific use has been identified for this site, however the port recognises that this is an excellent location for a large-scale processor to establish a state-of-the-art facility.

PPA chief financial officer Stephen Paterson explained:

“This is a major upgrade to small-scale processing facilities at the port, in line with the modernisation that has taken place with the construction of the new fish market and the huge investment in the harbour itself to give vessels access 24-7-365.”

Also being introduced in early 2026 will be an e-auction in the fish market itself, replacing the traditional shout auction. Operating via electronic platforms, it will allow for a broader range of
processors potentially to source fish from Peterhead.

Following a decision by the PPA Board to move to the new system, Aucxis’ cloud based platform KOSMOS was chosen. Aucxis offers turnkey e-trade solutions to auctions worldwide with more than 150 e-auctions currently in use selling fish, flowers, fruit and vegetables, coffee, wool, livestock and machinery The business, based in Belgium, has a long history of e-auctions spanning
back to the mid-1980s and already has solutions and customers in Peterhead and the wider North-East of Scotland.

Graeme Reid, PPA Chief Executive Officer, stated:

“We are delighted to have a formal agreement in place with Aucxis now. The team at Aucxis have been a pleasure to work with and their in-depth knowledge of e-trade solutions has proved invaluable in our process to date.

“We are continuing to work through the wide-ranging subjects that combined will make Peterhead fish market the leading e-auction market in Europe and enable future stability and growth.

“This e-auction is the culmination of more than £70 million worth of investment in Port facilities in the last 10 years, including the new market itself, that will further reinforce and future proof our position as the leading fish port in Europe.”

KOSMOS is hosted in the cloud via Microsoft Azure, and offers a stable and scalable solution for both local and remote buyers. It has a user-friendly interface and advanced features such as dynamic clock auctions, real-time bidding, and comprehensive reporting tools, meaning buyers and sellers can participate more efficiently.

The first phase of implementation will focus on analysing the current processes, followed by the configuration and integration of KOSMOS. Next, the system will undergo multiple test phases in close collaboration with PPA and its stakeholders. To support this transition, Aucxis will provide specialised hardware, including industrial tablets, mobile input and printing solutions, label printers, and auctioneer headsets. This equipment seamlessly integrates with the KOSMOS platform, optimising auction operations.

Meanwhile, a brand new £3.5 million ice-making plant is up and running at the port, further enhancing its support for the processing and catching sectors. The factory, located on Greenhill Quay
adjacent to the fish market, is far more efficient and much more accessible than the two old plants it replaces, both from roadside and the quayside.

It means lorries can park easily and safely to load ice for fish processing facilities and vessels can take on supplies of ice at any state of the tide.