Harbour chiefs have released revealed a £66million masterplan for the port of Stornoway.

The creation of a £50million deep water facility is part of the plans now out for public consultation.

Stornoway Port Authority has outlined its 20-year vision for the harbour in the draft plan, which could drastically improve the town’s economic future.

It identifies a number of projects which would boost facilities for various sectors, from ferries and cruise ships through to renewables and oil exploration.

The “first phase” of proposals have been estimated at approximately £66million and includes the creation of the deep water facility on the south east of the harbour.

Also proposed is the redevelopment of Goat Island boatyard and the creation of a new marina at Newton with an estimated cost of £10million.

Other important improvements to facilities in the harbour, such as pontoons for the fishermen, landscaping, and ferry access road improvements are also included.

This first phase of work has been described by the port authority as “absolutely essential to the future of the port and a major driver for the island economy”.

Alex Macleod, Stornoway Port Authority chief executive, said: “This consultation process is important for the development of our Port Masterplan and we encourage the community to get involved in the process. A lot of research and engagement with key stakeholders has been progressed to get to this stage, and this public consultation is the final part of the process.

“The port must update what is generally 100-year-old infrastructure, and we must move forward to ensure we can accommodate modern ships and industries.”

All of the options are up for discussion during the consultation period between now and January 13 2017.

The masterplan document is available for viewing online on Stornoway Port Authority’s website, with hard copies available on request.

Drop-in sessions will be held in Stornoway Ferry Terminal on December 13 and 14, where bigger versions of the plans will be on display and the consultants will be present.

The sessions are December 13 from 10.30am to 12.30pm, 2pm to 4pm and 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

On December 14, the drop-in will be from 10.30am to 12.30pm and a public meeting will be held in An Lanntair at 6.30pm, where the plans will again be on show and comments welcomed.