Plans to resurrect a Wester Ross fabrication yard are progressing well, according to its management.
Weather permitting, the gates at Kishorn’s dry dock will be tested in the next weeks before the dock is pumped out for the first time in nearly 25 years.
It is the first stage in wider plans to eventually bring the yard back into use decommissioning oil rigs.
The yard includes one of the largest dry docks in western Europe but it has been out of use for years.
It was last used for work on the huge footings used on the Skye Bridge.
Now a £500,000 trial is underway to test if the dock is still functional.
Work started last month and so far sheet pile abutments which support the ends of the dock gates have had a major refurbishment to improve their structural integrity
All of the access hatch covers to underwater chambers have been replaced and work to replace the flood culvert seals are underway.
All seal faces have been cleaned and ready for seals to be put in place.
Dive teams are due on site on Monday to prepare the gates for lifting and inspection.
In the next few weeks the gates are due to be floated to check the seals and the bottom of the gates before being put in place, ready for the dry dock to be drained.
Alasdair Ferguson, KPL director said “There is strong interest in the use of the dry dock, once works are complete, tested and back into use.
“This will create jobs locally and bring back to life the ‘Sleeping Giant’, which would be fantastic for the area.
“There is still a lot of challenging work to be done, but we are pleased with progress and remain on schedule with the works, with the Harris Pye contract team doing a sterling job on site.
“The team have been made very welcome in the area, whilst staying in local accommodation.”
The port employed about 3,000 people in its 1970s heyday and accommodated some of the largest floating structures ever to be fabricated for the North Sea oil and gas industry.
Hundreds of new jobs could be created if the port gains a licence to carry out decommisioning work.
Local MP Ian Blackford has said the port could be a “gold mine” because of the benefit the huge dry dock would have to the decommissioning industry.
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