Leiths Newsletter Issue 21 - Magazine - Page 10
DIVISIONAL UPDATES
ISSUE 21
KISHORN PORT
Northern Producer Comes Down with a Bang!
In June this year the end-of-life Northern Producer
floating oil & gas production platform was brought to
the ground by explosive demolition.
This was a major milestone in the dismantling and recycling of this 11,200
tonne former oil and gas platform in Kishorn Port’s dry dock. The platform
had been brought into the dock in October 2023 and has undergone a
lengthy period of stripping out, decontamination and cleaning by the
dismantling contractor, Liberty Industrial, to get to the cutting up stage.
But before cutting up could start, the platform was reduced in height
by making pre-weakening cuts in the steel legs and the use of 38
strategically placed explosive demolition charges. Prior to the explosive
demolition, 4,500 tonnes of crusher run stone, supplied by Leiths from
Kishorn Quarry, was laid under the platform to act as a cushion to protect
the concrete dock floor.
Liberty employed specialised contractors to carefully plan and model the
demolition process in 3D to ensure that it would fall away from the dry
dock gates and dock walls. On the day, the platform fell exactly as planned
to a great sigh of relief from all those present.
Since then, Liberty have used up to 5 large excavators with cutting shears
to cut up the platform and by October 2024 it had been cut up and
removed from the dry dock. A first cargo of 3,500 tonnes of steel was
loaded to a cargo vessel from the dry dock gates and removed by sea with
others to follow.
Bringing down the platform by explosive demolition allowed easier access
for the cutting up machines by reducing working at height activities and at
the same time making the whole operation safer.
A video showing the explosive demolition can be viewed on You Tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpKMvVWCZyE
AWARDS FOR KISHORN PORT
KPL recently received recognition for its work at
Kishorn Port at two business awards events held
in Inverness.
KPL won the Crown Estate Scotland award for Outstanding
Supporter of Coastal Communities at an event organised by
Prosper (the Scottish Council for Development and Industry). The
award recognises the work KPL has undertaken in regenerating
the former yard and dry dock facility at Kishorn which has created
economic opportunities for local communities.
At Inverness Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards lunch, KPL
received the Highland Business Award for Innovation sponsored
by the University of the Highlands & Islands.
Pictured - Grant Milne, Leiths CEO and Kevin Ferguson from KPL
receiving the Highland Business Innovation award.
[Photo credit: Highland News & Media Ltd – James MacKenzie]
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