Giant wind project gives dock new lease of life

UP to 200 jobs will be created as a dry dock comes out of a 23-year hibernation for what is said to be the world’s biggest floating wind farm.

Kishorn dry dock will be used to help build floating turbines for Kincardine Offshore’s development off the coast of Aberdeen.

Work will start at the dock, in Ross-shire, in August, with the first turbine of the 50MW array expected to be in the water in the second quarter of 2018.

The eight-turbine facility will produce enough electricity to power almost 56,000 homes. Kishorn Port Ltd and Kincardine Offshore have signed an exclusivity agreement which will see the port come back to life for the first time since 1994.

Kincardine Offshore project director Carlos Barat said: ‘This is a significant development for the people of Kishorn and will directly lead to the creation of up to 200 much-needed jobs in the area. The agreement to use Kishorn dry dock will herald a new era for offshore renewables and, of course, for this area as the terrific potential this facility offers the country is realised.’

Kishorn was built to help with the construction of the Ninian Central Platform in the 1970s. The last time its 13,000 ton dock gates were opened was in 1994 when the two concrete foundation caissons for the Skye Bridge were floated out.

energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: ‘With 25 per cent of europe’s offshore wind potential, and through development with due regard to our natural environment, Scotland is strongly positioned to maximise the economic and environmental benefits the technology can deliver.’