Port of Aberdeen

Turning legacy into leadership

A modern website to match a £420m expansion and net zero ambition

Sector

Maritime, Energy Infrastructure

Location

Scotland

Expertise

Web and Digital

What we delivered

UX/UI design
Copywriting
Website development

Port of Aberdeen, the UK’s oldest existing business, is shaping a bold new future. With a £420 million South Harbour development opening new capabilities across energy, cargo and cruise, the port’s physical infrastructure was evolving dramatically. But its digital presence hadn’t kept pace.

The previous website was static, difficult to navigate, and out of step with what modern users - and the business itself - needed. Whether it was international shipping operators looking for vessel data, cruise tourists planning their arrival, or energy stakeholders assessing the port’s net zero role, the site needed to do more.

The requirement was to build a scalable, functional digital platform that communicates the port’s story, supports operational users, and signals the port’s critical role in Scotland’s energy future.

Strategic priorities behind a high-impact digital platform

We approached the website as a flagship communications asset - one that needed to balance storytelling with technical performance. Our strategy was grounded in four priorities:

Reflect transformation: Visually and verbally bring to life the scale of investment and strategic significance of the South Harbour expansion.
Enable self-service: Reduce operational bottlenecks by embedding tools and data users could access directly.
Build digital confidence: Equip the in-house comms team with a CMS and content model that’s easy to manage and update.
Position for net zero leadership: Show how the port is enabling cleaner, smarter operations.

UX and design overhaul

We rebuilt the information architecture around user needs, simplifying access to services, schedules, and strategic content. The visual look and feel was refreshed to feel modern and authoritative.

Content and messaging

We wrote sharp, engaging content that highlights the port’s legacy, capabilities, and growth agenda - positioning it as a high-performance hub for Scotland’s energy transition.

Integrated tools

We implemented functionality that provides real-time data including live vessel arrivals and departures, weather and tidal data, cruise schedules, dynamic document libraries and more.

Scalable CMS and training

The backend system gives the Port’s team full control over content updates, supported by templates and training that enable ongoing agility without technical overhead.

“The new website was a crucial part of our rebrand from Aberdeen Harbour to Port of Aberdeen. The Aspect team were easy to work with, went the extra mile to understand our asks and provided expert input along the way. The result was a high-quality, user-friendly website that reflects the forward-thinking nature of our organisation.”

Jordan Harkins
Head of Communications, Port of Aberdeen

Signalling ambition, supporting operations

Port of Aberdeen’s new website delivers where it matters: performance, positioning, and practicality. It reflects the port’s critical role in supporting Scotland’s energy future, meets the needs of operational audiences in real-time, and gives the comms team the tools to tell their story without constraint.

It’s not just a website. It’s a signal of where the Port of Aberdeen is headed - and who it’s ready to work with next.