Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2022

Statistics on the economic contributions of Scotland’s marine sectors. Includes a time series of approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA), turnover and employment for industrial categories defined as part of the marine sector.


Construction and water transport services include:

  • Construction of waterways, harbours, marinas, locks and river works.
  • Construction of dams and dredging of waterways.
  • Operation of harbours, piers and waterway locks.
  • Navigation, pilotage, berthing, lighterage, salvage and lighthouse activities.

This excludes cargo handling and operation of marinas.

Marine construction and water transport services are key for connectivity and supporting growth for the marine economy. Scottish Annual Business Statistics provides the construction and water transport services data. See Data and Methodology for more information.

In 2022, marine construction and water transport services generated £395 million in aGVA. This was 0.24% of the Scottish economy, and 8% of the marine economy. Marine construction and water transport services employed 3,700 people in 2022. This was 0.14% of Scottish employment, and 5% of marine economy employment.

Construction and water transport services aGVA increased by 18% between 2021 and 2022. Employment fell by 23% between 2021 and 2022. In the longer term, construction and water transport services aGVA decreased by 37% between 2013 and 2022 (Figure 8).

Figure 8. Construction and water transport services aGVA increased to £701 million in 2017 before decreasing steadily to £334 million in 2021.

Construction and water transport services aGVA by year, 2013 to 2022

Figure 8: line graph showing construction and water transport services aGVA by year, 2013 to 2022. Construction and water transport services aGVA increased to £701 million in 2017 before decreasing steadily to £334 million in 2021.

A geographic breakdown of construction and water transport services are not available.

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