Green light for Kishorn dry dock expansion

Plans to extend the dry dock at Kishorn Port have been approved by Highland councillors.

 

Operators said the decision was 'a further and significant step in the regeneration of the port and dry dock' which was originally established in the mid-1970s to service the Ninian Central oil and gas platform.

 

"attachment_482803" "" "300"] The development proposal involves an extension of the dry dock into adjoining land.

 

The proposal involves an extension of the dry dock into adjoining land which, when completed, will allow the port to receive vessels and structures up to 250 metres in length in comparison to the current 160 metres.

 

This will allow the port to accommodate a wider range of marine projects for decommissioning, maintenance and upgrade. Importantly, it will also enhance

 

the port’s offering to the offshore wind sector which, through the current ScotWind leasing round, will take on a significantly enhanced role in the generation of renewable energy in Scotland.

 

"attachment_482806" "" "300"] Rock excavated from the dry dock extension will be used in the reclamation of an area of foreshore.

 

Rock excavated from the dry dock extension will be used to reclaim an area of foreshore which will provide further land within the port to support various industries which use the port now and in future.

 

Kishorn Port Limited is a joint venture between Corpach-based Ferguson Transport and Shipping and Aberdeen-based Leiths (Scotland) Limited.

 

Speaking after the council committee meeting, Kishorn Port spokesman Colin Ortlepp said: ‘We welcome the council’s approval of this proposal which follows a period of more than 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.

 

'We’re extremely appreciative of the support we’ve had from the community, the Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and many others in our journey to bring work back to Kishorn.

 

'More activity at Kishorn gives us the ability to create further employment within Wester Ross.’

 

The dry dock was last used in the 1990s for the making of two caissons to support the Skye Bridge.