BP aiming to create 500 jobs

Oil giant BP is hoping to create 500 new jobs in Scotland. Rosyth Dockyard in Fife could win a major new shipbuilding contract from BP after senior executives met bosses from Babcock to discuss building four wind farm support vessels.

The huge wind farm is hoped to be built off the east coast of Scotland with German energy group ENBW.

Both firms need a licence for the offshore wind farm and put an application into the Scotwind auction in the summer – and other yards will be in the running for the work.

BP bosses also visited sites in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde.

The oil company has already been awarded wind farm acreage in the Irish

Sea with ENBW, in the UK licensing round in February, and said that vessels built here could also support Irish Sea operations.

The director of BP’S Irish Sea project, Richard Haydock, visited Rosyth Dockyard last week.

Mr Haydock said: “If we can do something that benefits the yards in Scotland I think that would be a great outcome for all concerned.”

The immediate future for the yard looks bright with Babcock launching a recruitment drive earlier this month for 500 workers to help on the £1.25 billion Type 31 frigates contract.

Five new ships are being built for the Royal Navy and the search for new workers coincided with the opening of their new £31.5 million shipbuilding assembly hall, the Venturer Building.

However, Babcock will be looking to bring in more contracts.

BP’S senior vice-president zero carbon energy, Felipe Arbelaez, said: “You’re looking at activity that will probably bring in the vicinity of 500 jobs for a number of years.

“We think it would be a very material opportunity for any of the shipyards in Scotland.”

Mr Arbelaez said he was confident Scottish yards could compete against operations in countries that are seen as being lower-cost players, such as Poland.

He added: “With some of the investment and government support and capability that’s been built we would expect the shipyards here to be competitive.”

OPPORTUNITY: The immediate future for Rosyth Dockyard is looking bright.