WORK is nearing completion on the first stage of a £19 million expansion of Greenock Ocean Terminal.

A giant 200-metre floating pontoon is currently under construction at Inchgreen Dry Dock and, when finished, it will welcome some of the world's largest and most luxurious cruise ships when they call.

The massive structure is expected to be completed next month.

It will then be towed downriver to behind the Waterfront Cinema, where the new ocean terminal will be located.

It will lead to a new state-of-the-art visitor centre, including a restaurant and museum honouring late Gourock-based artist George Wyllie, which will be built at the shore-side later this year.

The £19.2m project, led by Inverclyde Council, is part of the £1 billion Glasgow region City Deal scheme, which is funded equally by the UK and Scottish governments.

Local authority leader Stephen McCabe visited Inchgreen to see how the work is progressing.

Councillor McCabe said: "This is a very impressive feat of civil engineering which highlights the value of the Inchgreen Dry Dock as a maritime resource.

"The project is key part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

"The new visitor centre at the Greenock Ocean Terminal is expected to make a significant contribution to economic growth and international tourism across the wider city region area.

"The ocean terminal started as a container terminal but Peel Ports has significantly expanded the cruise ship side of the business over recent years. "These new berthing facilities will help to support that growth and are a vote of confidence in Greenock.”

The floating pontoon will be able to accommodate super ships up to 340m long.

It is made up of four, 1,000-tonne, concrete caissons - a watertight chamber - each the size of a small ship.

Once complete they will be towed out of the dock and secured to piles driven into the seabed.

Peel Ports, which owns and operates the terminal, is contributing around £8m towards the terminal development.

The new facilities are expected to increase visitor numbers to some 150,000 passengers a year, providing a £26m boost to the Scottish economy.

Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, said: "I'm pleased that progress is being made on the development of Greenock Ocean Terminal. "This important project will support jobs and businesses by bringing thousands of tourists to the many attractions that west Scotland has to offer.

"The UK Government is working with the Scottish Government to unlock the potential of every region."

The pontoons are made of steel-reinforced concrete filled with polystyrene for buoyancy and measure up to 56m long and 5m high.

Michael Matheson, Scotland's cabinet secretary for infrastructure, said: "Once completed, the new facility will ensure that Greenock is able to maximise on the economic benefits that cruise ships can bring, by attracting many more visitors to the area, which in turn should create jobs and attract further investment."