A Danish project engineering company is to set up a £5million rig refurbishment base in the Cromarty Firth in the Highlands.
The Cromarty Firth Port Authority-owned Invergordon Service Base, which has been operating for 40 years and has handled more than 650 rig visits, will be home to the new base after establishing a partnership with Semco Maritime.
The Danish engineerhailed the area’s strategic North Sea location and its position as Scotland’s deepest water engineering facility. The two firms have entered a strategic partner-ship that will see the port owner push ahead with a £20million plan to invest in offices, heavy lifting equipment and an additional deep-water quay.
Semco will invest an additional £5million in onshore equipment, workshops and other operation facilities.
CFPA chief executive Bob Buskie said: “In order to support Semco Maritime’s activities in Invergordon, we are strengthening our position as a services provider.
“This means developing our capabilities in logistics, heavy lifting equipment and agency services, as well as facilities such as warehousing, office accommodation, and the provision of additional car parking.”
Semco Maritime said the agreement marked “an important milestone” in the fulfilment of its growth plan for rig projects.
The new facility at Invergordon adds the final “third leg” to its existing rig upgrade facility in Esbjerg, Denmark, and sites in Norway.
From January 27, ten engineers, project leaders and ground personnel from Semco Maritime will be in place at the Invergordon facility ready to serve rig operators around the North Sea.
According to head of Semco Maritime Rig Projects, senior vice-president, Hans Peter Jørgensen, the number of personnel employed at Invergordon will vary depending on the current projects.
“We have been successfully working jointly with ports in Norway, Denmark and as far afield as Vietnam, for many years. Our investment of £5million will ensure we establish ourselves as a serious alternative to other rig repair companies. We plan to make further investments as we grow our business,” he said.
“Because of a tight time schedule and the demand for precise and accurate execution, rig upgrade is a highly manpower-intensive operation creating several hundreds of jobs when a rig is harboured for service.
“Many of the jobs will be performed by local suppliers and skilled local labour working closely together with Semco Maritime’s own Rig Upgrade Specialist Team.”
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