Funding Boost For Wester Ross Dry Dock Accommodation Project
16th September 2020
A project to create accommodation facilities at Kishorn dry dock in Wester Ross has secured investment of up to £94,675 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Having on-site accommodation will enhance the dock's capacity and help it attract more high-end contracts in offshore renewables and oil and gas decommissioning. This in turn will bring wider benefits to the local economy.
Kishorn Port Ltd (KPL) is a joint venture between Leiths (Scotland) Ltd and Ferguson Freight Holdings Ltd, both of whom have businesses at the port. Ferguson Transport and Shipping operate the port and use as a base for their marine logistic services to the aquaculture industry and Leiths operate a quarry on the site.
Kishorn dry dock was developed in the 1970s as a manufacturing and fabrication yard for oil platforms. As one of the largest dry docks in Europe, the facility was also central to the manufacturing of the two Skye Bridge concrete caissons in the 1990s.
Last week it welcomed Teekay's Banff FPSO for temporary mooring and the Dry Dock was also recently used for the dismantling of the Kaami cargo vessel, which ran aground off the coast of Skye in March.
Other projects in recent years include support service on the Ocean Great White rig, prior to it being commissioned to the West of Shetland oil field.
In 2017 the dock was completely refurbished in readiness for new contracts. The abutment gates and seals were overhauled, the site was prepared in readiness and a new access concrete ramp was created. The £450,000 project included £158,932 from HIE.
KPL also secured £800,000, from the Scottish Government's Decommissioning Challenge Fund, for infrastructure upgrades at the dry dock, certified by Bureau Veritas and now open for business.
The accommodation project will involve the installation of two blocks housing 28 single bedrooms.
Alastair Nicolson, HIE's area manager for Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross, said:"Kishorn Port and Dry Dock is a great asset to Wester Ross that supports valuable jobs in a very rural area. It contributes to economic and community growth and the wider competitiveness of the region.
"The dock has huge potential, not only in the decommissioning of floating structures, but in the extension of life for oil and gas assets, renewables and aquaculture projects as well.
"We are very pleased to be able to support this latest project to develop on site accommodation. This will enhance the site's capacity and help it attract more high-value contracts."
Alasdair Ferguson, Director of Kishorn Port Ltd, said:“HIE's financial support at Kishorn is very much appreciated. This support funding has allowed us to develop on site accommodation to support contractors and staff who are out with reasonable travelling distance to work on site for projects such as the ones we are currently undertaking and also for future contracts."
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Deerness Distillery Ltd has secured £246,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the £820,000 development. Construction is underway at the distillery, which was founded by husband-and-wife team Stuart and Adelle Brown.
The Co-Chairs of the Inverness Castle Delivery Group, Fergus Ewing MSP and Cllr Ian Brown, are delighted to announce the award of £30,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in support of framing the 57 panels that will form the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands. This financial commitment from HIE has contributed significantly to the preservation of the 57 panels created by communities across the Highlands and Islands, of which 32 will be included in the first exhibition as part of the Inverness Castle Experience.
Sumitomo Electric UK Power Cables Ltd plans to establish major operations in the region, supplying high voltage cables to the growing offshore wind energy sector. A funding package has been agreed to secure an estimated £350m in inward investment for Scotland, based in the Highlands.
As part of the study, businesses, community groups and social enterprises with future land or property plans are encouraged to complete a short survey by 22 March 2024. Whether it's interest in land for sale or space to lease, HIE is keen to hear from organisations already based in the region as well as from those that are considering locating a business to the area.
L&M Engineering has secured a grant of £58,914 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the development, which is set to boost business turnover by £1.2m and create two jobs over the next three years. The company is diversifying its operations to cater for additional aquaculture markets.
Most businesses in the Highlands and Islands consider their links with the local community as either equal to or more important than their profitable growth. This is one of the key findings of the most recent rural business survey commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).
Dynamic business support programme, IMPACT30, is aimed at nurturing and empowering the next generation of innovative leaders. The fully funded programme is for people aged under 35 in a young enterprise and in a key decision-making role.
A project to increase electricity supply and reduce emissions on a west coast island has been awarded more than £25,000 by HIE. The HIE funding is being used to replace and upgrade high voltage transformers and other associated equipment to enable a major upgrade of the renewable energy supply on the Isle of Muck.
Region's young workforce to take part in pioneering sustainability skills programme. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Zero Waste Scotland and business transformation enterprise Powering Futures have teamed up to provide the fully-funded places on the Highlands and Islands Powering Futures Challenge 2024.
People working in or entering Scotland's growing renewables industry will soon have access to a new training facility in Inverness. The £1.22m Renewable Energy Training Centre, being established by Aurora Energy Services Ltd, (AES) will be the first of its kind in the region.