WICK (from the old Norse “VIK” – a bay) lies in a strategic position on the north east tip of mainland Scotland. The earliest harbour works began in 1803 under The British Fisheries Society, to exploit the huge seasonal herring fishing. Trade at Wick peaked around 1900 when some 1120 vessels were based here, and over two particularly busy days landed fifty million fish!.

It was dry work! For about that time the workforce were consuming 3000 litres of whisky a week from the local Old Pulteney Distillery! A comprehensive factual and photographic history of the port and the town can be seen nearby in the Wick Heritage Centre, a "must" for anyone with salt on their lips.

Thomas Telford, engineering genius, Thomas Stevenson, father of Robert Louis, who lived in Harbour Terrace, and local man James Bremner, whose distinctive "Round House" overlooks the Inner Basin, and whose memorial stands above the Old Lifeboat shed, were all eminent civil engineers who built the harbour, largely as you see it today.

From 1879 the port was owned and operated by Wick Harbour Trust, a publicly constituted body whose members were elected from local fishing, business and council interests. As of 1st July 2005, management of the port is now under the new Wick Harbour Authority. (See 'Latest News' page)

Business today is somewhat less hectic than those early days, and the port is suffering badly from the demise of the east coast white fish trade.

Commercial trade is thriving however, with regular deliveries of fuel oil, agricultural lime, road salt, coal, oil related cargo and wind turbines. Exports are of local high quality barley for malting, and timber.