Hopes high for jobs boost at Kishorn Port
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HOPES are high for a major jobs boost in Wester Ross as work to “waken a sleeping industrial giant” gather pace.
Kishorn Port recently welcomed more than 100 representatives from different industries and funding agencies as it looks to capitalise on the growing need for oil decommissioning work and the burgeoning offshore renewables sector.
And local MP Ian Blackford is hopeful that Kishorn Port’s bid to draw contracts to the huge dry dock will pay off.
Speaking at the information day at the dry dock he praised the site’s huge potential and said he believes a return to the site’s glory days of the 1970s, when around 4000 people helped build oil rigs, is not out of the question.
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 delighted with what has been achieved so far. Kishorn offers a tremendous opportunity for growth and I am delighted that Kishorn Port Ltd have taken this opportunity to showcase just what they can do.
“In the past Kishorn has been described as ‘a sleeping giant’, but with the drive and enthusiasm of its current owners and the number of companies from the oil and gas industry in attendance here today it will soon be awakening.
The visit by the 100 delegates was organised in partnership between Kishorn Port, the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in an effort to showcase the site’s capabilities following its recent redevelopment in readiness of potential energy sector projects.
The site was developed in the 1970s as a manufacturing and fabrication yard for oil platforms, with thousands 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.
Kishorn is also ideally located for the decommissioning of floating oil and gas structures, with immediately adjacent deep-water access and significant laydown space neighbouring the dry dock.
There is also growing interest in floating concrete foundations for the offshore wind industry as the sector moves to larger turbines.
HIE invested £158,932 in a £450,000 project in 2017 to completely refurbish and upgrade the dock in readiness for new contracts.
