New partnership agreement boosts Scrabster

Caithness got a jobs boost this week after ASCO, an Aberdeen-based oil and gas logistics company, acquired a 50 per cent stake in Scrabster Port Services.

The move was described as ‘good news’ by Far North MP John Thurso and the local Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives of ASCO, which has operations spanning the globe are confident the local port can play a key role in the development of new oil and gas reserves west of Shetland and ongoing efforts to exploit renewable energy in the Pentland Firth.

Eight to 10 jobs are due to be created shortly as the workload at the harbour undergoes a significant increase, although the figure could rise.

ASCO chiefs have signed a joint venture agreement with Port Services Group of Invergordon, which previously owned 100 per cent of Scrabster Port Services.

Under the terms of the agreement PSG will retain the remaining half of the Caithness operation.

Walter Robertson, managing director of ASCO’s European operations, said: “Over the next four to five years, the west of Shetland basin is going to be a key development area for our clients as emerging technology allows them to unlock new oil and gas reserves.

“The Pentland Firth is also a focus for renewable energy operators as one of the world’s best tidal resources.”

He added: “Scrabster is an ideal location from which to support our customers’ logistics demands as it means vessels do not have to return to our Peterhead or Aberdeen bases for key items of equipment, minimising costs.

“The partnership with Port Services Group allows our clients to benefit from Scrabster’s excellent infrastructure and our proven systems in one seamless operation.”

ASCO regularly support BP operations through Scrabster and among existing SPS clients are Chevron and Subsea 7.

Steve Clark, Port Services managing director, said: “We are delighted to have completed this joint venture with ASCO and envisage a significant increase in the workload at Scrabster as a result.

“This venture coupled with the exciting developments west of Shetland means we need to increase staff numbers in Caithness and we plan to start recruiting immediately.”

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP and former chairman of Scrabster Harbour Trust, John Thurso, gave his backing to the deal.

He said: “ASCO is a very well-known and reputable company with a long and good record in the North Sea. This is good news for the port and the local economy.

“The creation of eight to 10 jobs is very welcome in the current climate and if the venture proves to be economically successful there is no reason why the operation cannot grow.

“If more vessels use the port, there will be a rise in activity and an increase in jobs.”

Trudy Morris, the chief executive if of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, also welcomed the involvement of ASCO at Scrabster Harbour.

“This is exactly what the county needs at a time when Dounreay is running down and we have to create new jobs,” said.

“It is great that a company such as ASCO feels that Scrabster is the place to be and wants to invest in the port. It is good news and, hopefully, will be a signal for other companies to invest here.”

William Calder, the chairman of Scrabster Harbour trust, explained that a multi-million pound development is planned at the port to create a new deepwater quay, adjacent back-up land and to modernise the existing oil tanker quay.

“This joint venture will greatly strengthen the excellent services we already offer and is a major vote of confidence in our development plans. We are pushing ahead with phase one, involving the creation of two sheltered deepwater berths and the reclamation of approximately 9000 square metres of quayside area.

“This goes out to tender very shortly, with construction expected to begin early in 2010,” he said.

Scrabster Port Services was established in 1997 and has played a pivotal role in developing Scrabster – the UK’s most northerly mainland port – as a hub for offshore and production support west of Shetland, on the Atlantic frontier and in the waters around the Faroe Islands. The company also handles cargo tonnage and works with cruise ship and research vessel operators.

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