Documenting Uig Harbour Redevelopment

Located on the north-west coast of the Isle of Skye, Uig Harbour is a vital transport link connecting Skye with the Outer Hebrides through ferry services to Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist.

The harbour underwent a major redevelopment programme to modernise its marine infrastructure, improve ferry facilities and support essential transport connections for island communities, businesses and visitors.

Steven Gourlay Media was commissioned to document the construction works undertaken by RJ McLeod, providing regular video production, photography and data capture throughout the development.

Major Harbour Infrastructure Works

The redevelopment involved substantial marine engineering, including dredging, land reclamation, extensive piling operations, widening of the pier approach and improvements to the ferry berthing facilities.

A significant part of the project involved replacing the existing linkspan and supporting structures, alongside improvements to the harbour's ability to accommodate ferry operations.

Much of the construction took place within a restricted working environment, with the additional challenges of coastal weather conditions, marine operations and the need to maintain harbour access wherever possible.

Construction Progress Filming and Photography

Over a series of monthly visits, I documented the changing construction site, capturing the development of the harbour infrastructure at different stages of the project.

The work involved video production, photography and data capture, building a consistent visual record of construction progress over time.

Filming and photography focused on the scale of the engineering works, construction machinery, marine structures and the transformation of the harbour as the redevelopment progressed.

Regular visits provided an opportunity to capture changes to the site and document key stages of construction, creating a valuable record of a complex infrastructure project.

Long-Term Construction Documentation

Major construction projects develop over months and years, often involving work that becomes hidden or inaccessible as subsequent stages are completed.

Consistent progress documentation helps preserve a visual record of these changes, showing how individual construction activities contribute to the wider development.

The material captured at Uig provided RJ McLeod with ongoing visual documentation of the works, supporting project records and providing content suitable for communicating construction progress.

The Uig Harbour project demonstrates the value of regular construction filming, professional photography and data capture in documenting major civil engineering and marine infrastructure developments across the Scottish Highlands and Islands.