Crossaig Project Team Tackle Marine Pollution at Dalintober Harbour

Beach Clean Crossaig.jpg

  • 185kg of Coastal litter removed in Campbeltown Harbour clean-up by project team working on SSEN Transmission Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Reinforcement Project.

Nine volunteers from SSEN Transmission’s Crossaig electricity substation project rolled up their sleeves for a beach clean at Dalintober Harbour in Campbeltown, removing an impressive 185kg of litter from the shoreline.

Among the items collected were washed-up tyres, discarded fishing equipment, and even traffic cones - waste that poses a real threat to local wildlife and the marine environment.

Team members from SSEN Transmission and their Principal Contractor BAM worked in a collaborative effort with volunteer group Kintyre Coastal Network (KCN), who protect the coastal marine environment in Kintyre.    The Crossaig Substation, which is currently under construction, is part of SSEN Transmission’s wider 275kV Argyll and Kintyre Reinforcement project, a series of electricity upgrade projects that will help strengthen the region’s transmission network.

The project team swapped their usual tools for litter pickers and bin bags as part of SSEN Transmission’s ongoing commitment to environmental initiatives and its dedication to supporting the communities it works in.  

2. SSEN Transmission_Over 185kg of litter was collected by the volunteers, including several tyres!_Pic credit BAM.jpg

Ali Awada, Project Manager for SSEN Transmission said: "Our volunteers were keen to make a positive impact, and they’ve done exactly that. This initiative reflects our shared responsibility to protect the beautiful coastal areas we work alongside.

“We're proud to play our part in looking after the coastline near our Crossaig substation project. When we heard that Kintyre Coastal Network needed a helping hand to clear litter from Dalintober Harbour our volunteers were keen to help however they could.  Our team showed real enthusiasm, and the results speak for themselves—over 185kg of waste removed and a cleaner harbour for all."

Dalintober Harbour, known for its stunning views and rich maritime heritage, is a popular spot in Campbeltown. The efforts of the Crossaig Substation team were welcomed by locals and environmental groups alike.

3. SSEN Transmission_The team worked to clear tyres, traffic cones and old fishing gear from the shores of Dalintober_Pic credit BAM.jpg

A spokesperson for Kintyre Coastal Network said: “Kintyre Coastal Network (KCN) are extremely grateful to SSEN Transmission and BAM for their magnificent and endlessly cheerful efforts in clearing the litter from Dalintober harbour walls and beach.

“An astonishing 185kg of litter was collected.

“Their hard work was both noticed and much appreciated by the local community as evidenced by the plethora of positive comments on “The Wee Toon” community Facebook page.

“The team made both a positive and outstanding contribution to one of the aims of KCN by helping us to both highlight and deal with the litter along Kintyre’s coast.”

SSEN Transmission is constructing a new 275kV substation at Crossaig which will connect to the recently completed 275kV overhead line between Inveraray and Crossaig.  The existing 132kV Crossaig Substation is no longer sufficient to support the growing demand for renewable energy connections in Argyll, and the new substation will help enable the transportation of renewable energy from the Argyll peninsula as well as improve the security of electricity supply in the region. 

The project is part of SSEN Transmission’s wider 275kV Argyll and Kintyre Reinforcement project, a series of electricity upgrade projects that will help strengthen the region’s transmission network and support Scotland’s transition to Net Zero emissions.

Learn more about the project here: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/crossaig-substation/