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Kishorn Port hints at plans to extend dry dock


By Philip Murray

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Kishorn Port.
Kishorn Port.

Kishorn port has raised hopes of a jobs boost after it signalled plans to extend its dry dock to cater to demand for the decommissioning of ships.

As well as providing logistics support and construction facilities for the marine and renewable industries, Kishorn Port in Wester Ross can also decommission static offshore infrastructure – but this permission does not extend to the breaking up of ships.

However, following its successful emergency work to decommission the MV Kaami – which ran aground near Skye earlier this year – it is now seeking permission to add this sector to its portfolio in a bid to offset slower than expected demand from the offshore wind industry.

And it wants to cut an extension into its 160-metre diameter dry dock to cater for longer ships. It believes this will help to drive further trade, and create further skilled jobs.

In a supporting statement accompanying its planning application, it said: “Kishorn Port has received a number of inquiries from companies within the oil and gas sector for the decommissioning of floating production storage and offloading vessels, and floating production units; structures which can be up to 250 metre in length.

“The current dock dimension of circa 160 metre preclude the port being able to accommodate those larger vessel sizes. There is local skilled labour and supply chain capable to support the construction works required. The construction works are expected to take up to a year, during which times jobs will be created. Kishorn Port has not developed at the pace that might have been hoped... primarily due to slow progress by the offshore wind sector. As such the benefits of construction in terms of jobs, and direct and indirect benefits to the local economy are being realised at a lower level, but over a long time period. The construction of the dry dock extension will continue to provide socio-economic benefit to... the Highland economy.”

It claims existing rules and measures for its current decommissioning work mean it will have “negligible” impact on the environment, and said the land earmarked for the extension has little value.

The application has been given a cautious welcome by ward councillor Ian Cockburn. Describing the need for a “happy medium”, he said: “On the whole I wouldn’t be against [the application] so long as they can confirm that everything is in place to prevent pollution. We are in a fragile area and need jobs and need well-paying jobs – so I think if they can do that while mitigating the environment risks [then I’m for it].”


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