The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Chinese firm plans to set up HQ at waterfront
DUNDEE: Company has already discussed decommissioning opportunities in city
Dundee’s nascent decommissioning sector has been given a major boost after a Chinese firm announced it intends to base its UK operations in the city.
The Chinese Ocean Engineering Shanghai Company (COES) yesterday revealed it intends to set up its UK headquarters on the waterfront when the firm’s president Hong Chong met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Shanghai.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I welcome the announcement that COES intends to establish a base in Scotland.
“Throughout my visit to China I have been travelling with the message that Scotland is a fantastic place to invest and do business. I look forward to hearing more details of COES’s plans.”
A delegation from the company visited Dundee in November where they discussed decommissioning opportunities with council administration leader John Alexander.
The SNP councillor said: “From the outset, I very clearly stated the need to be determined and proactive in bringing opportunities to our doorstep.
“Investment and jobs will not simply land on our lap, we need a dogged determination to ensure that we engage with, promote and encourage businesses to make Dundee their home.
“I’m absolutely delighted that COES have set out their ambition to create a decommissioning project base here in our dynamic and growing city following the hosting of a senior delegation in November 2017.”
Mr Alexander said the announcement offers a huge boost to the city’s hopes of becoming a major centre for oil decommissioning work.
He said: “Whilst some have knocked our decommissioning credentials, I think it’s clear that there are huge opportunities for Dundee and that we are not resting on our laurels to land them.
“We know that the value of decommissioning is spread across a number of elements and we want Dundee to be the go-to for everything above and below the sea.
“We want Dundee to be to decommissioning, what Aberdeen is for oil & gas exploration. We’ll be taking nothing for granted over the coming months and years and will continue to work hard to deliver skilled jobs for locals.”
A spokesman from the Port of Dundee said: “We had an initial meeting with a representative from China Ocean Engineering Shanghai in Dundee last week to discuss potential wider opportunities for their business in Dundee and we look forward to continuing these initial discussions at a future date.
“This demonstrates the geographical importance of the Port of Dundee to a number of markets on the east coast of Scotland and reflects the significant investment that Forth Ports has made in port infrastructure over the past 12 months.”
Dundee City Council, Forth Ports and DC Thomson collaborated to create DundeeCom – a local organisation which was co-funded and set up to secure decommissioning work.