The owner of the former McDermott Fabrication Yard site at Ardersier in the Moray Firth has gone into administration. Energy Voice 2023. ", Announcing the purchase on social media, Mr O'Sullivan said Ardersier Port, which comprises 450 acres onshore and a further 340 acres offshore, would become "Europe's leading decommissioning, floating wind, fixed wind and hydrogen facility.". Aberdeen Journals Ltd 2023. The site at Whiteness Head on the Moray Firth, west of Nairn, is the former McDermott Yard which opened in the early 1970s for the fabrication and construction of offshore platforms for use in the North Sea gas and oil industry. However, a fall in demand finally led to the facility's closure in 2001. General view from NE of former NE spoolbase storage racks. And, in Ardersier, we have a place where we can physically undertake the work.. Today Steve and I will start to reinvent the wheel.". View from E of NE side of Pipe Mill buildings. Some 2.5 million cubic metres of sand equivalent to 1000 Olympic swimming pools will be removed. yard several years ago, but subsequently pulled out. It's not totally accurate, and can sometimes assign images to odd clusters. We have another opportunity now. Ardersier's long dormant fabrication yard is set to take on a new life as one of Europe's most important locations for renewable energy and decommissioning, according to its new owners. The wildlife of the area includes bottlenose dolphins and seabirds, including terns. View from SW across from the yard to the Whiteness Spit. CWC Group now lists the. View from S of open bay of Fabrication building to SE side of Deck Assembly building (possibly paint shop). Oblique aerial view centred on the Ardersier Oil Rig Construction Yard under construction in 1973, taken from the SE. At its peak, there were over 3,000 staff employed at Ardersier constructing offshore platforms for the oil industry. The former McDermott fabrication yard at Ardersier is under new ownership. Skip to main content. The proposed development at Whiteness, on the Moray Firth near Ardersier, was given the green light in principle in 2007. Mr Regan and Mr OSullivan set up Ardersier Port (Scotland) in May and registered the business in Fraserburgh. View from W within Pipe Mill building, showing pit exposed by removal of large-scale plant. Read about our approach to external linking. General view of yard from E, with Pipe Mill buildings. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. At more than 400 acres - and with more than a kilometre of quayside - Ardersier is the largest brownfield port in the UK. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies -. A new slipway will be created along with a 300m steel mill and a concrete production plant. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. in NH8057, near Ardersier. Based in Brailsford, Derbyshire, the CWC Group was founded in 1964 by Charles Clowes, who went on to feature regularly in the Sunday Times Rich List of Britains richest people. Distant general view of yard from SE, with the approach road stretching out in the foreground, and the Moray Firth and Black Isle in the background. MHG45951 - Ardersier, Oil Rig Construction Yard Summary. Mr O'Sullivan and Mr Regan, who registered their new business, Ardersier Port (Scotland), in May, also own Messiah Decommissioning, which is currently dismantling the Hutton platform legs at Queens Dock at Port of Cromarty Firth. It includes 340 acres suitable for development and a 3,280ft-long harbour protected by a sand and shingle bank. On its website, CWC Group says it is fuelled by its own hard-won resources and has raised itself from the ground to become one of the largest and strongest privately-owned UK property investment and property development organisations.. The partners will recycle dredged sand as aggregate for concrete production, recycle steel from decommissioned oil rigs as reinforcement for concrete floating wind foundations and generate energy from waste. In the 1970s Ardersier - a vast and currently unused port 14 miles east of Inverness - was one of the largest oil rig fabrication yards in the world, employing up to 4500 workers. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Senior Highland councillor Jimmy Gray, a union leader who worked at the yard as a welder between 1975 and 2000, is optimistic the fresh investment will result in Scotland getting a bigger slice of the renewables cake in terms of jobs and financial return. Leading offshore wind farm developer BW Ideol AS has reaffirmed plans to create a major manufacturing hub at the former McDermott fabrication yard site at Ardersier after securing rights to develop a floating offshore wind farm with an approximate capacity of 1GW off the northeast coast of Scotland. A major offshore fabrication yard is established by Lewis Offshore Ltd (owned by Fred Olsen) at Arnish Point, near Stornoway. An oblique aerial view of Ardersier fabrication yard, E of Inverness, looking E. Aerial view of the Moray Firth and Carse of Ardersier, looking E. General oblique aerial view of the Ardersier oil rig construction yard with the Black Isle and Sutherland beyond, looking to the N. Ian B M Ralston Aberdeen Archaeological Surveys. The former owners had hoped to turn the yard, originally built to fabricate massive steel jackets for North Sea oil platforms, into a manufacturing super-hub for offshore wind. In the 1970s Ardersier - a vast and currently unused port 14 miles east of Inverness - was one of the largest oil rig fabrication yards in the world, employing up to 4500 workers. At its height, the yard employed about 4,500 people but it closed in 2001 as demand dropped. Ardersier Fabrication yard Cutting, rolling and welding of heavy plate steel for jacket piling. With 138 hectares (340 acres) of vacant land and a deep water quay, the purpose-built yard, located on the Moray Firth, 15 miles east of Inverness , is ideally placed to take a slice of the . View from SE of open bay of Fabrication building to SE side of Deck Assembly building (possibly paint shop). A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox. Moray Estates Development Company Apr 1973 - Feb 1982 8 years 11 months. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? The steel mill the UKs first for 50 years will be powered by energy from existing offshore wind turbines. Find Jeremy Cresswell's email address, contact information, LinkedIn, Twitter, other social media and more. At over 400 acres (162ha) and with more than a kilometre of quayside, Ardersier is the largest brownfield port in the UK. Management at Ardersier have so far refused to comment beyond saying, they are hopeful of work coming to the yard in the near future, and a, spokesman for Elf Enterprise said that no decision has yet been made on, the award of the sub-contract, although he confirmed that MacDermotts is, one of the bidders for the work. Business partners Tony O'Sullivan and Steve Regan have acquired the former McDermott fabrication site from Clowes Developments for an undisclosed sum. The potential of this site, if put into productive use, is enormous and if that potential is realised, there is a clear prospect of the creation of substantial numbers of jobs.. "Dredging will commence this year and the port will be open in 2022," Mr Sullivan revealed. Steve Regan, a former chief executive of civil engineering firm Careys, and business. Ardersier Port has been sold to new owners who have ambitious plans for its future. Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Yesterday Gordon Arthur, director of Edinburgh-based Clowes Developments (Scotland) Limited, part of the CWC Group, failed to respond to requests for further information on the companys plans for the land. Whiteness Head is designated a site of special scientific interest and forms part of the Inner Moray Firth Special Protection Area. On its website, CWC Group says it is fuelled by its own hard-won resources and has raised itself from the ground to become one of the largest and strongest privately-owned UK property investment and property development organisations.. Worked on various projects at Nigg and Ardersier Fabrication yards in Scotland, Terra Nova FPSO Project in St John's Newfoundland Canada, Barracuda and Carratinga FPSO's in Rio de Janeiro and was seconded Agip in Dubai UAE on Kashagan project Mike #McDermott employees and families rolled up their sleeves to clean 10 . The authorities have more recently backed the ports potential as a site for renewables-related development as part of the Scottish Governments national renewables infrastructure plan. The plans include a floating wind manufacturing hub for concrete. Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry said: We will need to hear more about the new owners and their future plans, but it is certainly positive news that this site has finally been bought. By: valenta. Steve Regan, a former chief executive of civil engineering firm Careys, and business partner Tony OSullivan, say the facility belongs to them now. The former McDermott Yard opened in the early 1970s for the fabrication and construction of offshore platforms for use in the North Sea gas and oil industry. KPMG also said it would not be offering any further comment at the moment.. All rights reserved. View from NW of area of former slipways, with deck Assembly building beyond. 2023- Highland News and Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Offshore wind logistics and fabrication and sustainable energy production are also on their wish list. Read about our approach to external linking. The sites sale was revealed in a recent progress report by administrators KPMG. The company had previously been given planning permission in principle from Highland Council to construct offshore wind farms at the site. 2023 BBC. 3. Bull Arm Fabrication Yard, Newfoundland Halliburton 5 years 11 months Structural Draftsman Halliburton . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments. Ardersier's long dormant fabrication yard is set to take on a new life as one of Europe's most important locations for renewable energy and decommissioning, according to its new owners. news of the sale was greeted with surprise in the Highlands this week, Playing the high stakes deep sea mining table, A quitter not a fighter: Liz Truss steps down as Prime Minister after only 44 days, Appetite for investment: Equinor boss says Suncor deal shows commitment to the UK, North Sea helicopter emergency lands at Sumburgh Airport in Shetland, Longboat eyes second route for relinquished Egyptian Vulture licence, Aberdeen Drger facility expands rental equipment by 20%, Exxon sued by US after five nooses found at Louisiana plant, Sonelgaz seeks EPC contractors for solar PV tender. View from S of typical block of Project Offices, at the SE end of the yard. This photograph D922/3/2/2, is from the. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Formerly run by contractor McDermott , the brownfield site at Ardersier was built on reclaimed land during the 1970s, and was a significant fabrication facility during the North Sea oil boom. The latter contained a robot-operated record store for project drawings and other documentation. View of water tanks along SW edge of the yard. Read about our approach to external linking. The remainder of the contract is. Putting names to archive photos, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, In photos: India's disappearing single-screen cinemas. Apr 1994 - Sep 1998 4 years 6 months. The group owns industrial, commercial, office, retail, leisure, residential and mixed-use sites throughout the UK, which it runs through 16 active trading companies and a number of management/service companies. A Gannett Company. Work is due to get underway in the next fortnight beginning with dredging along the 400-acre sites banks on the Moray Firth coastline at a cost of 20m. View from SE of Weighbridge House and Weighbridge, with Pipe Mill buildings beyond, at SE end of the yard. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies -. A spokeswoman for Highland Council said the authority did not know about the CWC Groups plans and the company had not yet been in touch with the planning department. What sparked a 'ferocious frenzy of bidding' at Dingwall Mart's sheep sale? Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Oblique aerial view, looking NE over the Moray Firth and Ardersier fabrication site and Whiteness point. This site uses cookies. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. A spokeswoman for Highland Council said the authority did not know about the CWC Groups plans and the company had not yet been in touch with the planning department. View from NW within Plate Cutting Shop at SE end of Pipe Mill building. Highland Council planning officers have recommended councillors grant planning permission in principle. The site comprising 400 acres of port area with access to a 2.2km quay and 350 acres of statutory harbour authority has been identified as one of three sites on the east coast of the UK with the size, scale, shape, and location capable of being an Offshore Renewable Energy Hub Port. When the Ardersier site was put up for sale in February it was specified that it should be taken on in its entirety rather than being broken up. A Derbyshire-based land and property developer has emerged as the new owner of the former fabrication yard at Ardersier, in the Highlands, following a 5million deal. About 300 people will be employed locally for early construction work on the UKs largest brownfield port. Distant general view of yard from SE, with the approach road stretching out in the foreground, and the Moray Firth and Black Isle in the background. Type and Period (2) (Former Type) SITE (Undated) PLATFORM FABRICATION YARD (20th Century to 21st Century - 1901 AD to 2002 AD) . Theyre telling me that they wont be short-term contracts, theyll be full-time contracts. View along SW side of building to SE side of Deck Assembly building (possibly Paint Shop). The new owners aim to use the site for both the decommissioning of redundant oil and gas infrastructure and to support Scotland's renewable energy sector by providing fabrication and logistics facilities for offshore and fixed wind developments, as well as catering for other green energy developments such as green hydrogen. The plans include a floating wind manufacturing hub for concrete foundations. Based in Brailsford, Derbyshire, the CWC Group was founded in 1964 by Charles Clowes, who went on to feature regularly in a London newspapers list of Britains richest people. General view from NW of area of former slipways, with Deck Assembly building beyond. The company has plans to use it for a range of purposes, including developing platforms for offshore wind turbines and decommissioning North Sea rigs. Ardersier's dormant fabrication yard is set to take on a new life as one of Europe's most important locations for renewable energy and decommissioning, according to its new owners. off-shore renewables port facility at Ardersier. View from W of Shot-blast building, with Pipe Mill buildings beyond. View from N towards Paint Store on SW edge of yard. The project is a joint initiative by Ardersier Ports joint owners, Mr Regan and Tony OSullivan, and floating wind specialists BW Ideol. The proposed. . Aerial view of Ardersier, site of former oil rig construction yard & rifle ranges, E of Inverness, looking NE. Oblique view from W along SW side of Deck Assembly building, showing low bay (Plate pre-fabrication) and the High-level Warehouse. Around two and a half thousand workers were paid. Inverness cancer survivor runs 83 miles in aid of charity that helped him during treatment, China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control, Historic ocean treaty agreed after decade of talks, Inside the enclave surrounded by pro-Russia forces, 'The nurses wanted me to feel guilty about my abortion, From Afghan TV fame to a US factory floor. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, James Connie Andrews, to whom she was married for 60 years, and her brother, Samuel Elzie Williams II. View from E along (open) side of Deck Assembly building. J. Ray McDermott announced the closure of Ardersier Fabrication yard in 2002, following almost 30 years of activity at the site. is still one big fabrication yard too many in Scotland. SITE DESCRIPTION 3.1 The site is the former McDermott Fabrication Yard located approximately 7.5km to General oblique aerial view of Ardersier, looking to the SW. Courtesy of HES (G D B Jones Collection). inaccuracy or intrusion, then please The port comprises of 450 acres onshore and a further 340 acres offshore. All Rights Reserved. View of weighbridge at main entrance to yard. The site has been bought for just over 5m, according to a document from KPMG, the administrator for the . Articles by Jeremy Cresswell on Muck Rack. A Derbyshire-based land and property developer has emerged as the new owner of the former fabrication yard at Adersier, in the Highlands, following a 5million deal. Previous purchases by the group in Scotland include the former Stoddards carpet factory in Kilmarnock, which is being developed as a residential site. O'Sullivan and Regan explained: "Using circular economy practices the facility will accommodate multiple complementary work streams from decommissioning of oil and gas assets, recycling of wind turbines, production of sustainable aggregates and concrete, large scale manufacturing, offshore wind logistics and fabrication, sustainable energy production as well as offering its extensive marine facilities for the upgrade and maintenance of existing assets. Elevated distant view of the Pipe Mill buildings from SSE. Were developing the right projects, the floating wind projects as an example. The new owners aim to use the site for both the decommissioning of redundant oil and gas infrastructure and to support Scotland's renewable energy sector by providing fabrication and logistics facilities for offshore and fixed wind developments, as well as catering for other green energy developments such as green hydrogen. This presented viable options for buyers like OSullivan and Regan to pursue their vision and aspirations for the site within the renewable energy sector. However, a fall in demand finally led to the facility's closure in 2001. Site NameArdersier, Oil Rig Construction Yard, ClassificationPlatform Fabrication Yard (Modern), Permalinkhttp://canmore.org.uk/site/75252. View from S of Paint Hangar (? All Rights Reserved. In the 1970s, the site 14 miles east of Inverness was one of the largest oil rig fabrication yards in the world, employing up to 4,500 workers. . It states there is the potential for up to 2000 new jobs Papers of James Sloan Bone, landscape historian, Inverness, Highland, Scotland, Courtesy of HES (James S Bone Collection). Community leaders in the area are watching closely. The site has been bought for just over 5m, according to a document from KPMG, the administrator for the former owner. SC045925. New town and marina proposed for former oil yard, Harry: I always felt different to rest of family, Everything Everywhere wins big ahead of Oscars, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, PM to end asylum claims from small boat arrivals, Mbappe breaks PSG goal record in win over Nantes, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, From Afghan TV fame to a US factory floor. Ardersier's dormant fabrication yard is set to take on a new life as one of Europe's most important locations for renewable energy and decommissioning, according to its new owners. We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse. In 2007, Highland Council approved ambitious plans for a 1,950 home development, along with a marina, hotel, visitor centre and community facilities including a primary school. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself. An oblique aerial view of the former Ardersier Oil Rig Construction Yard and Whiteness Head, near Nairn, looking NE. Developers are seeking the go ahead to turn a former oil fabrication yard in the Highlands into a manufacturing "super-hub" for renewables . If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. At its height the yard employed about 4,500 people, but it closed in 2001 as demand dropped. Ardersier, 14 miles east of Inverness, opened in the early 1970s and was used for building steel jackets for oil platforms. View from SE within Deck Assembly building. ), and nearby offices (to the NW of the Deck Assemby building). New owners state that dredging will commence this year and the renewables-focused port should be open in 2022, Sign up to The Climate Agenda - the one-stop shop for green businesses and those fighting climate change. Something went wrong, please try again later. However, a fall in demand finally led to the facility's closure in 2001. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. J. Ray McDermott announced the closure of Ardersier Fabrication yard in 2002, following almost 30 years of activity at the site. The site includes a long "spit" of land, known as Whiteness Head. CWC Group now lists the 700 acre site, near Nairn, among its nationwide portfolio of 118 properties, but the companys plans for the land are not yet known. Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry said: We will need to hear more about the new owners and their future plans, but it is certainly positive news that this site has finally been bought. They moved the structure, which had sat in the body of water for more than 12 years, in May. Opened by US engineering group McDermott in 1972, at its height the Ardersier fabrication yard had some 4500 staff, making it the largest private sector employer in the Highlands. The former McDermott fabrication yard at Ardersier is under new ownership. Mechanic / Welder. The Ardersier yard, like its near neighbour, Nigg on the Cromarty, Firth, has had to contend with predictions from some analysts that there. Business partners Tony OSullivan and Steve Regan have acquired the former McDermott fabrication site from Clowes Developments for an undisclosed sum. View from SSE along SE side of Pipe Mill buildings. Ardersier's dormant fabrication yard is set to take on a new life as one of Europe's most important locations for renewable energy and decommissioning, according to its new owners. A new slipway will be created along with a 300m steel mill and a concrete production plant. These include the jackets, piles and decks for, Lennox Hamilton and Hamilton North, and the Douglas jacket and piles in, Hamilton Brothers' Liverpool Bay integrated development, which should be. Historic ocean treaty agreed after decade of talks, China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control, Inside the enclave surrounded by pro-Russia forces. The consortium behind Port of Ardersier say that the new facility would be able to support around 2,500 jobs. <br><br>I write proposals for audit, tax, and business consulting services for clients ranging across all industries but majorly in manufacturing, healthcare, not . The Allyance is a development partnership comprising BayWa r.e., a global renewable energy business with UK offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Elicio, an experienced Belgian offshore wind developer, owner and operator, and BW Ideol, a proven floating technology leader and international floating wind project co-developer. Oblique aerial view over Ardersier fabrication site with Whiteness point and in the foreground the Carse of Ardersier, looking NE. General view from SW towards former slipways. It includes more than 400 acres and more than a kilometre of quayside but has been disused for many years. Leading offshore wind farm developer BW Ideol AS has reaffirmed plans to create a major manufacturing hub at the former McDermott fabrication yard site at Ardersier after securing rights to develop a floating offshore wind farm with an approximate capacity of 1GW off the northeast coast of Scotland. In the 1970s Ardersier - a vast and currently unused port 14 miles east of Inverness - was one of the largest oil rig fabrication yards in the world, employing up to 4500 workers. Do you know this baby? "The ports location, expanse and direct access to the North Sea presents a wealth of opportunities and we wish its new owners every success in their endeavours.". View from S along SE side of Deck Assembly building (right) and Plate Warehouse (left), Ardersier Oil Rig Construction Yard.