Marine and cargo-handling operator Sea-Cargo yesterday unveiled plans to expand its involvement in the offshore oil and gas industry by launching a new support base in Aberdeen.
The Norwegian group aims to provide oil companies and other offshore clients with a wider choice of services at the port.
Its investment, which it described only as a six-figure sum, is expected to lead to some new jobs and the further development of Sea-Cargo’s existing Matthews Quay facility.
A Sea-Cargo spokesman was unable to put any figure on the impact on employment, adding it depended on clients’ needs.
He added: “Sea-Cargo already has a long track record in handling offshore vessels on an ad-hoc basis and has now formalised offshore support base services in response to market demand.”
Sea-Cargo said its new base at Matthews Quay was already “well served” by extensive berthing, warehousing and quayside marshalling areas as well as support infrastructure including cranes, transport, forklifts, stevedores and other specialised handling equipment.
Matthews Quay is also home to a two-storey, 5,000 square feet office building that can be made available to clients.
Sea-Cargo said the new operation would build on a strong existing business and client base, involving weekly scheduled vessel shipments from Aberdeen to West Africa, Norway and other ports across northern Europe.
Ian Shewan, the company’s general manager in Aberdeen, added: “We have carried out offshore support vessel discharges and loadings for several decades.
“Recent market trends have led us to widen this service and increase the options for oil and gas companies wishing to use Aberdeen harbour.
“Our team has handled over 1,000,000 tonnes of cargo in recent years – the majority of this oil and gas related.
“We believe that we are well-positioned to develop a major offshore support facility in the heart of Aberdeen harbour.”
Sea-Cargo, which operates a fleet of multipurpose roll-on, roll-off vessels – primarily on North Sea routes linking the west coast of Norway, mainland Europe and the UK, has appointed Jim Cargill to head up the new offshore support base.
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