AN ALLIANCE of businesses has been launched to promote Dundee as the UK hub for North Sea oil and gas decommissioning.
Forth and Tay Decommissioning (F&TD) has been formed to offer a full supply chain for the industry in a bid to attract work.
It will build on the private-public partnership Dundeecom, formed two years ago to grow jobs across the sector in the city.
By establishing a permanent UK base for full service delivery of decommissioning, F&TD hopes to reduce the cost and risk of relocating skills and equipment.
Commenting on the new alliance, Callum Falconer, chief executive of Dundeecom, said: “Today is an exciting day as we launch Forth and Tay Decommissioning. This is the natural evolution of Dundeecom, which was started two years ago with the vision of creating a decommissioning hub in Dundee. This vision is now being realised.
“F&TD will create the framework for a sustainable, profitable and
low cost decommissioning industry in Dundee, and better serve the future needs of our industry in Scotland.”
The firms within the group include ABB, Augean North Sea Services, COES Caledonian, Forth Ports, John Lawrie Group, Offshore Decommissioning Services and Well-Safe Solutions.
A feasibility study into the viability of a floating deep water quayside able to accommodate the largest decommissioning projects was announced along the launch of the group yesterday.
It will be carried out by Bureau Veritas.
One of the founding partners of F&TD, Charles Hammond, chief executive of Forth Ports, owners of the Port of Dundee, said: “Through significant private investment and strong partnerships, Dundee now offers a full service for the North Sea Oil and Gas decommissioning sector.
“The proximity to the skills base in Dundee, along with unrivalled land space and heavy lift quayside, makes Dundee the logical choice for large scale decommissioning in Scotland.
“The study into a virtual deep water quay will ensure that we take advantage of the deep water in the Forth to accommodate the largest of decom projects.”
In its bid to bolster Dundee, F&TD is stressing the city’s skilled workforce, transport links and the port’s “strategic location”.
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