A row between an offshore support company and its landlord is being taken to the European Parliament.
Port Services (Invergordon) Ltd has accused Cromarty Firth Port Authority (CFPA) of “abusing its dominant position” and has now asked the parliament’s petitions committee to rule on the issue.
The company is being evicted by the port authority which wants to carry out a £800,000 redevelopment of the site next year.
Port Services claims the port authority wants to use the site for one of its competitors.
The petition is being handled by London transport and maritime specialists Waterfront Public Affairs. Managing director Nicholas Finnie said Cromarty Firth was one of a small number of facilities in Europe capable of handling large rigs for the oil industry.
He said: “The assertion is that the Cromarty Firth is important within the European market and any abuse by the port authority will have an impact on Europe itself rather than be a regional issue.”
Politicians are worried about the potential threat to employment. In addition to the 40 jobs at Port Services, 70 workers at local engineering company RBG Ltd face being laid off.
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson has tabled several questions urging the Scottish Government to help settle the row.
He said: “The Cromarty Firth has huge potential but the management of the CFPA is questionable.
“I have asked the government for urgent intervention to re-establish trust from the local community who are baffled at the goings on there.”
Highlands and Islands Tory MSP Mary Scanlon, who has met with Port Services bosses, said: “I think there are questions to be answered regarding the Cromarty Firth Port Authority.”
Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith said Highland Council should cut through red tape surrounding plans for the compulsory purchase of the Nigg yard to allow companies to set up there and offset the threatened job losses.
A CFPA spokesman said: “As the matter is being dealt with by the European Parliament, we believe it would be inappropriate at this stage for us to comment in advance of parliament’s deliberations. However we can say that we would be pleased to assist the parliament should this be requested.”