Scotland’s struggling fishing fleet could be given a new lease of life servicing offshore wind turbines around the country.
The Scottish Government has commissioned Westhill-based SeaEnergy to investigate whether trawlers left unviable by quota cuts could be adapted.
Officials believe the vessels – and their skippers – could be vital to helping the offshore renewables industry getting up and running in Scotland.
The plan has been welcomed by fishermen, who have “an appetite” to get involved in the sector, according to the SeaEnergy study.
Details of the plan were released in the company’s half year report.
It states: “Rather than scrapping vessels in response to European fishing quota constraints, the Scottish Government tasked SeaEnergy with assessing whether some of these vessels might be put to work in offshore wind roles and with estimating associated conversion costs and charter rates.
“This study, which involved close liaison with the fishing vessel-owning community, shipyards and the windfarm developers, has confirmed that there is both a capability and appetite among fishing vessel owners to participate in this market sector, and also that there are suitable roles for these vessels to take on.”
Former skipper Albert Watt, who decommissioned the Fraserburgh-registered Heisker in 2004, said the industry would welcome this.
“This is similar to guard vessel duties given to fisherman by the oil industry – that was a big help,” he said.
“Jobs like this burn less fuel and cost less, because you don’t need as many men, and you don’t need to buy any extra quota.
“I think that anything that helps fishermen in the current circumstances is to be welcomed.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said officials were eager to see the results of the study.
“The Scottish Government worked with Scottish Enterprise to commission this project,” he said.
“We are aiming to evaluate potential suitability of fishing vessels to support the renewables industry.
“We are keen to ensure fishing vessels, if viable,are offered diversification opportunities should they wish and some vesselshave already undertaken this.
“This also enables us to utilise the wealth of skills that crews and skippers possess.
“This study is not yet complete and we wait the final report which will show the potential of this project and also help inform vessel owners in any decisions they take in seeking to undertake diversification.”
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