Dragados, which was awarded the contract to carry out the work at Nigg Bay to the south of the existing harbour, will open up it up to larger commercial vessels and cruise ships.

The project, which will run until 2020, will include access roads, quays, road alignment and parking as well as infrastructure works. Once complete, the £350 million development is intended to create new jobs, open new markets and attract inward investment to the area.

Open hole drilling was needed on site with Drilcorp rotary coring to a depth of 27m using a track-mounted rotary rig using an air flush medium.

The borehole was open hole drilled to around 17m then followed by rotary core drilling to 27m.

All core samples from the borehole were labelled and stored for the client to carry out testing, photography and logging.

Once complete the borehole was backfilled with bentonite pellets and drill cuttings.