Future looks bright for Kishorn’s ‘sleeping giant’
More than 100 delegates from the oil and gas sector were given an insight last Wednesday (September 19) into the redevelopment of the Kishorn yard and dry dock.
Organised by Kishorn Port Limited (KPL), the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), stakeholders from the oil and gas industry were given presentations on the developments of the Kishorn Port project by the directors of KPL, Simon Russell and Alasdair Ferguson, with Bill Cattanach OBE, head of supply chain at the OGA, chairing the proceedings.
The day provided an opportunity for attendees to tour the site and see first-hand the results of the latest round of refurbishment and upgrading works to the dry dock, which is now available for hire. The 160m diameter facility, with up to 13.8 metres of draft, is one of the largest dry docks in western Europe and was designed for use in the decommissioning and reactivation of rig, renewables and fabrication sectors.
Audrey MacIver, director of energy and low carbon from HIE, said that it was now ‘only a matter of time’ before the dry dock secured a long line of decommissioning and construction projects.
‘It’s great to be here today with our partners as well as the oil and gas representatives,’ he said. ‘The dock has huge potential, particularly in the decommissioning of floating structures and platforms which can be removed in a single lift, renewables and aquaculture. It would be great to see it coming to life again, providing valuable rural jobs, contributing to both economic and community growth and the wider competitiveness of the region.’
The site was originally developed in the 1970s as a manufacturing and fabrication yard for oil platforms,with more than 3,000 employed at the site in 1977 during the construction of the renowned 600,000-tonne Ninian Central Platform.
As one of the largest dry docks in Europe, the facility was also central to the manufacturing of the two Skye Bridge concrete caissons which were floated out in 1994.
MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber Ian Blackford praised the operators of Kishorn Port Ltd on their efforts to ‘waken a sleeping giant’, alluding to the 1970s times he believes, which could come again.
He said: ‘What we have here is the biggest dry dock in western Europe, which is a tremendous resource, capable of offering facilities for a number of industries.
Decommission of oil assets, for one, is in growing demand across the globe and with much of this work on our doorstep, it only seems logical that Kishorn should play a major role.
‘This place has huge potential in providing jobs for people right across the West Highlands and I am delighted with what has been achieved so far. Kishorn offers a tremendous opportunity for growth and I am delighted that Kishorn Port Ltd has taken this opportunity to showcase just what it can do.’