Scottish first for Port of Cromarty Firth with decommissioning permit

The Port of Cromarty Firth is the first port in Scotland to be granted a decommissioning Pollution Prevention Control Permit by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the latest environment legislation. This permit is part of the Port’s preparations to attract decommissioning projects and the associated jobs to the Highlands.

This environmental protection permit covers almost the whole of the Port-owned Invergordon Service Base; around 600m of quayside and 80,000 sqm of laydown area. It allows for the processing of 50,000 tonnes of waste material per year.

The Port has undertaken decommissioning projects in the past, including two semi-submersible rigs, subsea manifolds, and renewable energy devices, before the environmental regulations changed in 2013.

Bob Buskie CEO of the Port of Cromarty Firth said: “The Port is ideally located in the North Sea. Our status as a Trust Port, together with our proven environmental record, ensures platforms will be decommissioned in a way that meets the latest environmental standards. That status also ensures that 100% of any profits will be reinvested in the Port’s future development for the benefit of our stakeholders"

"We are already in discussions with customers who have structures to decommission and I can see the first of the projects coming to the Firth soon"