First step to Dundee port’s new dawn

Dundee’s days in the post-industrial doldrums may be numbered.

The city has reinvented itself in recent years and now enjoys a thriving business scene, dominated in the most part by small and medium-sized enterprises that are making strides in areas such as healthcare, digital services, hospitality and the knowledge economy.

But since the Caledon shipyard went silent there has been little sign of a renaissance in the heavy industries for which the city was once renowned.

The Port of Dundee has enjoyed an upturn in fortunes in recent years with increased cargoes, improved cruise traffic and rig maintenance work, but it remains a facility with significant untapped potential.

Yesterday’s announcement by the city’s new decommissioning group, Dundeecom, of the signing of a heads of terms agreement with Norwegian industrial giant AF Gruppen could be the key to unlocking that potential. This is no fly-by-night outfit here to make a quick buck. This is a serious industry player that has looked at the city’s many attributes – from its skilled labour force to the physical capabilities of the Port – and has chosen to come to Dundee to establish a major UK decommissioning base.

The new joint venture, AF Dundee, may only be taking its first steps but it has the potential to provide a long-term material boost to the city’s economy.

And after many industrial false dawns, that is welcome.