Aberdeen Harbour has welcomed the longest vessel to enter its port.
The HHL Rio de Janeiro stretches to 168.65 metres (553ft) in length.
The cargo vessel made a short stop in the city to load buoyancy modules ahead of departing on a 44-hour journey to Le Trait in France, where she will head on to her ultimate destination of Takoradi, Ghana.
The arrival of the HHL Rio de Janeiro is the latest in the ongoing trend for larger vessels and highlights the need for Aberdeen to be able to support traffic of a greater length and breadth, the port authority said.
Colin Parker, chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour, said: “The HHL Rio de Janeiro is the latest in a number of vessels that clearly demonstrates the need for the potential expansion of Aberdeen Harbour into Nigg Bay.
“In order to remain competitive and to support the global industries that use our port on a daily basis, we must be in a position to provide fit-for-purpose facilities.”
A final decision on the project is expected in late summer.
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