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Video: Kishorn Port ambitions revealed in new film


By Calum MacLeod

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Kishorn Port from the air.
Kishorn Port from the air.

Kishorn Port Limited (KPL) has unveiled its future plans in a new film released ahead of the Offshore Wind Conference which takes place in Aberdeen this week.

The film's release also follows the publication of Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council’s recent Scottish Offshore Wind Strategic Investment Assessment report, which, together with the earlier Port Enhancement for Offshore Wind report by Crown Estate Scotland (CES), Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), recognises Kishorn's significant potential to support future offshore wind development.

The 45ha Wester Ross port has already secured approval for a masterplan which will see the creation of additional laydown land, a new deep-water quay and an extended dry dock facility at what is already one of the largest dry docks in Europe.

The site also benefits from an aggregate quarry and concrete batching facilities, which are suitable for the manufacture for subsea concrete structures for floating or fixed bottom offshore wind turbines.

These developments are showcased in the short film, via a computer generated fly through of the port.

This has been designed to highlight the scope for the manufacturing, laydown, assembly and load-out of offshore wind structures, alongside day-to-day port operations including vessel decommissioning and aquaculture.

A KPL spokeswoman said: "KPL is already engaged in conversations with offshore wind developers and other Scottish ports to ensure port capacity is available in the right place with the necessary capabilities, optimising existing and future opportunities through cluster submissions and port alliances for whole-project solutions.

’This approach will ensure Scotland is well placed for future opportunities in the renewable energy sector. Going forward, KPL is enthusiastically looking forward to working with developers, CES, HIE, Highland Council, Scottish Government and other ports to ensure we are ready to play our part in the continuing deployment of offshore wind in Scotland and beyond.

"Kishorn Port already has principal infrastructure and site improvement plans in the pipeline, with Highland Council planning permission granted for the major project of increasing the dry dock to accommodate 250m long vessels and the reclamation of foreshore to increase laydown land by a further 9.5 hectares (22 acres) which will provide over to 20 hectares of available land at or close to quayside. There are also plans to replace one of the quays and create a new 500m quay with a minimum draft of 20m.

"KPL is ahead of the curve in licensing and permissions to expand which was reflected in the reports. The port was also recognised to be in proximity of the proposed ScotWind lease sites, in particular N1-N4 and also W1.

"We hope you enjoy and share our vision."

Kishorn Port Limited is a joint venture between Corpach-based Ferguson Transport and Shipping and Aberdeen-based Leiths (Scotland) Limited.

The original Kishorn Yard was developed as a manufacturing and fabrication yard for oil platforms in the 1970s, with its dry dock constructed specifically for the fabrication of the Ninian Central platform, a 600,000 tonne concrete structure.

Future development costs are estimated to be in the region of £40 million and will potentially create up to 50 jobs during construction and up to 300 jobs during manufacturing and related activities. These activities would include concrete production and manufacturing of offshore wind foundations, assembly and load-out of concrete and/or steel foundations, as well as continued decommissioning activities in the dry dock with all associated services provided at the port such as accommodation, welfare, logistics, cranage and laydown.


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