Scrabster secures marine power first
THE first maintenance contract secured by Scrabster harbour since its £20 million redevelopment was yesterday described as "a positive and promising move" for the Caithness port.
Scrabster Trust manager Sandy Mackie was speaking after the harbour secured its first operations and maintenance contract for a tidal device.
Scotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd, which is based in Orkney, chose Scrabster for work on its prototype tidal turbine, the SR250. It was towed across the firth last week by Scotrenewables’ sister company Scotmarine Ltd in a seven-hour operation and stayed there until Monday afternoon. The contract lift was undertaken by local crane contractor Hugh Simpson Ltd.
"This is good news for us and gets us on the map. It also puts the message out that Scrabster is open for work in the renewables field," Mr Mackie told the
Caithness Courier.
He said the work on the 100 ton, 33-metre long device was routine operations and maintenance which involved cleaning and oil changing. "The significant thing is the industry will realise there is an opportunity available at Scrabster. We hope this will be the first of many such projects.
"The company was very happy with the facilities here and the service it received," he stated.
Another company, Inverness-based AWS Engineering, is fabricating a renewables device which will be taken over to Lyness in Orkney. It is currently carrying out some work at Scrabster and will be there until the end of the month.
Mr Mackie said the port is also attracting oil and gas-related work from developments west of Shetland.
"There has been a number of large mobilisation and crew changes and all the customer feedback has been very positive. The future could be bright for Caithness but there are challenges to overcome," he added.
Trust chairman William Calder said the multi-million pound redevelopment ensures the port is "ideally placed" to capitalise on the marine renewable activity in the Pentland Firth and oil and gas projects west of Shetland just two months after the new pier came into operation.
"It is extremely exciting the new pier has come into life within the renewables industry so early by hosting an Orcadian tidal device from ScotRenewables. Scrabster Harbour is ideally placed to capitalise on the marine renewable activity in the Pentland Firth and oil and gas development west of Shetland and this confirms our strategy is the correct route.
"The surrounding supply chain in Caithness is also exceptional and has demonstrated its skills and experience with a range of recent developments to support our work at the harbour.
"Despite being in the early stages of our redevelopment, we have seen a rise in the volume of oil-related activities over the past couple of months with platform supply and subsea operations vessels for the oil and gas industry already using the new pier, proving our facilities are versatile and suitable for all aspects of the energy market."
Barry Johnston of Scotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd, said: "We are delighted to be using the facilities and expertise at Scrabster harbour. This highlights the cost effectiveness and mobility of our turbine which is unique in that we can easily tow it to the maintenance equipment and facilities rather than have the expense of mobilising the equipment to the turbine. We are therefore able to use facilities on both sides of the Pentland Firth.
"The local contractors and harbour staff at Scrabster have been a pleasure to work with".
The developments at Scrabster Harbour are supported by the Scottish government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
HIE’s Calum Davidson said the Scrabster contract is an example of joint working and of closer links between supply chain companies in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park area.
"To see companies from both sides of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park working together to build on the opportunities emerging in offshore renewables is extremely exciting, and a solid demonstration of the real business benefits that this emerging industry can bring.
"The investment in Scrabster Harbour is now reaping the rewards for local firms and work such as this cements the reputation of both Caithness and Orkney as being at the forefront of global marine renewables research."