Scottish oil terminal to become new Royal Navy base

Finnart oil terminal (Image: Graham Christie)

AN OIL terminal in Inverclyde is set to be turned into a new naval base to help supply British and Nato warships, the Royal Navy has announced.

First Sea Lord General Gwyn Jenkins revealed the Finnart Oil Terminal in Greenock has been bought by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and is set to become a new mine-hunting base for the Royal Navy.

The MoD did not reveal how much they bought the Loch Long facility for but said its acquisition marked a multi-million-pound investment to “strengthen the United Kingdom’s national security and defence resilience”.

It is understood the site will be decommissioned by the MoD and converted into a naval fuel depot.

Announcing the plans for the new naval base, Jenkins said: “The Royal Navy’s acquisition of the Finnart Oil Terminal is a critical step in strengthening our warfighting readiness and operational resilience.

“It secures a reliable fuel supply for our fleet, enabling us to sustain operations at pace and support our global commitments and Nato allies.

“Advancing the Warfighting Readiness Plan, this investment enhances our ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats and maintain our operational advantage.

“It demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring the Royal Navy remains ready to fight and win in an increasingly contested world.”.

First Sea Lord, Sir Gwynn Jenkins, visits the newly purchased Finnart Oil Terminal, located on Loch Long, close to HMNB Clyde (Image: Scott Barnett)

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander added: “This multi-million-pound investment will strengthen UK energy and naval operations’ resilience at a time when the security challenges we face have never been greater.

“Scotland has always been at the beating heart of UK defence and Finnart is further proof of that. By bringing this site back to life, the UK Government is also continuing its commitment to help with local recovery following the closure of Finnart last year.”

He continued: “From the Submarine Service at Faslane to shipbuilding on the Clyde, Scotland’s skilled workforce and world-class industrial base are central to keeping Britain secure.

“This acquisition supports the long-term transformation of HM Naval Base Clyde and supports the kind of high-skilled jobs and economic opportunity that our communities deserve. The UK Government is delivering a real defence dividend for Scotland and investments like this show exactly what that means in practice.”