Montrose Harbour, Angus, Scotland

As the largest Chain and Anchor port in Europe and with the world’s largest chain inspection companies, InterMoor and First Marine Solutions, calling us home, Montrose Port is strategically placed to work with supply vessels servicing wind farms, oil rigs and other destinations in the North Sea and far beyond.

The port has a long and fascinating history. It is believed Montrose has engaged in seaborne trade since at least the creation of the royal burgh of Montrose in the 12th century. Today it is a thriving, modern port providing a service hub for the North Sea energy industry and general cargo.

From its early inception as a port Montrose had traded in skins, hides and cured salmon but in the 17th century began to export wheat and barley in regular trading transactions with the Hanseatic League. The town imported flax and timber from the Baltic; salt, fruit and wine from France and Portugal. The wealth this brought to the town is demonstrated in the surviving houses built by landowning and merchant families as well as local street names of "America Street", "California Street", "Baltic Street" and "India Street" evidencing its trading heritage.

Bamse (meaning 'teddybear' in Norwegian), a St Bernard dog famed for his exploits and popular in local imagination, is buried in the town. Bamse the Norwegian Sea Dog arrived in Montrose on the Royal Norwegian Navy minesweeper Thorodd during World War II with Captain Erling Hafto, his owner, who registered him as a crew member. He saved the life of Lieutenant Commander Olav Nilsen at Dundee Docks and generally protected his fellow sailors. In stories Bamse is said to have got up on his hind legs and, at over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, clamped his great paws on assailants to end any fight. On his death in July 1944 Montrose schools were closed and 800 children lined the route to his graveside funeral.

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