A West Highland port operator has received planning approval from the Highland Council to extend its dry dock.
Kishorn Port is currently only available for use by structures and vessels up to 160m in length.
The approved proposals will extend the dry dock into the adjoining land, which will require excavating part of a nearby hillside, enabling it to receive vessels up to 250 metres in length.
Once the extension is completed, the port will be able to accommodate a wider range of marine projects for decommissioning, maintenance and upgrade.
The port said the move will enable it to improve and increase work with both the renewables and the oil and gas sector.
It is estimated the decommissioning work would bring a £46bn benefit to the local economy, while creating around 40 new jobs.
Director Colin Ortlepp said: “We welcome the council’s approval of this proposal which follows a period of over ten years during which Kishorn Port has invested significantly to bring the dry dock and wider port area back to life.
“2020 saw three significant decommissioning and oil and gas projects use our facilities, and we believe the port will host many more projects in future as a direct result of Scotland’s energy transition.”
Kishorn Yard was set up in the 1970s for the manufacturing of oil platforms. It was responsible for building the Ninian Central Oil production platform, which weighed more than 600,000 tonnes and was the world’s largest floating concrete structure.
In 2019, the site was given its first major oil and gas contract in more than 40 years, servicing the world’s biggest semi-submersible offshore drilling rig, Ocean GreatWhite.
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
