The council's SNP group has come up with the idea and Scots-Australian ferry designer Stewart Ballantyne, who runs Sea Transport Corporation, will discuss the possibility with academics, a Scottish Government minister and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and council officials when he visits Scotland later this month.

Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith has been working closely on the plans which could see the yard become a centre for building state-of-the-art, fuel efficient vessels for use both home and abroad, along with Inverness SNP councillor and transport consultant Roy Pedersen.

She has also met specialists in the field of ship and ferry building recently.

The innovative proposal comes as Highland Council embarks on an 11-week period of public consultation to agree a development masterplan for Nigg.

When adopted, the masterplan will provide supplementary planning guidance to the local development plan.

It is also intended to underpin a compulsory purchase order should the council, as a last resort, need to buy the yard to enable the site to be brought back into economic use.

Councillor Smith said: "Within our group we often look at a situation from a different standpoint and try to consider views outside of the immediate picture and this way we come up with new ideas.

"It is not rocket science to use Nigg for shipbuilding but for far too long the fact that EU competition law stood in the way with regard to the funding of the Nigg dry dock, which was received some years ago, has hampered those involved thinking about shipbuilding at all.

"So we investigated and Roy came up with a report after contacting friends and colleagues in the industries concerned.

"I can reveal that there are people considering investment in ferry building in Easter Ross.

"I am hopeful that this will become part of the uses for Nigg in the future."

Councillor Smith added: "The Nigg masterplan that the SNP began is now being considered under the new administration at Highland Council and welcomes feedback.

"I would still hope that the Independent/Lab/Lib Dem alliance will take on board our work and incorporate our findings into their plan before they seek the compulsory purchase order."

The Nigg complex has lain substantially vacant for the past five years and the masterplan has been devised with a view to unlocking the site for development over the next 15 to 20 years.

The document considers two options for the site's future use – developing it through a single major owner for oil, gas and renewables, and also providing a more flexible layout with a range of smaller plots concentrating on renewables and a "green energy park".

The masterplan is available at service points and libraries in Ross-shire and is also available on the council's website, www.highland.gov.uk.

People have until February 16 to have their say on options for the future of the site.

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