A RETIRED marine consultant believes Peel Ports could use vacant land at Hunterston to build massive cruise liners - creating a massive jobs boom for North Ayrshire.

The vacant brownfield site is part of the firm's 20-year masterplan but Largs man Harvey Green believes it could be the ideal site to construct the vessels which have become a huge tourism money-spinner.

Harvey told the News: "You could develop a proper enclosed shipyard which could be big enough to construct two cruise ships at a time.

"At present, the nearest one is in Germany, so this is a real opportunity.

"It would bring thousand of jobs and to my mind would be the perfect site as it has open ground to create a shipbuilding factory on.

"Port Glasgow is too small as it is squeezed between a historic monument and dock and can't deal with ships any bigger than 95m.

"This plan could certainly attract international interest."

Harvey says while there would need to be massive investment to pull the project off, the spin-offs merit further examination.

He added: "These ships are massive money, it could also be a major economy boost for the area if it was to happen.

"Cruise ships are so specialised at the moment and rather than see them built in shipyards in Korea and China, Hunterston could be the premier spot in Europe.

"High cost areas such Germany, Italy and France can't compete, but why couldn't we build cruise liners here? We have expertise in the field and we could attract more.

"It would certainly attract hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs, much more so than the industries that have been mentioned so far for Hunterston."

The Meyer Werft shipyard in Northwest Germany has built massive cruise liners such as the Anthem of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world built for US operator Royal Caribbean International and Harvey believes a facility at Hunterston could rival that operation.

Councillor Tom Marshall, head of planning at North Ayrshire Council, said: "I think the proposal for some kind of shipbuilding at Hunterston was mentioned many years ago.

"There was a survey about moving some of the shipbuilding from the upper Clyde to lower Clyde, but the main advantage of Hunterston is the deep water port - it is the deepest water of any port in Europe and that is the direction to go.

"I don't think the developments suggested for the site so far are the right kind of projects.

"Hunterston needs to be used as a port facility, and has a good railhead too for transport. Mr Green's idea is certainly an intersting one."