Rigs and renewables keep port bouyant

North Sea drilling rigs anchoring up in Scotland helped Cromarty Firth Port Authority to post a 40% rise in turnover to £4.5 million for 2009 up from £3.2 m the previous year.

The Scottish port authority also posted a record £0.96 m pre-tax profit for the year, compared with £367,000 in 2008,

“The primary areas of increased business for the port in 2009 were oil rigs anchored in the Cromarty Firth, and a rise in general shipping in the area,” said the CFPA.

While traditional North Sea maintenance work has helped to keep the cash rolling in, growing activity in the offshore renewable energy sector has helped to keep activity up, said the authority.

“For many years the Invergordon service base has been recognised worldwide as an international hub for its inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) of oil rigs and subsea engineering, with key tenants such as RBG and Global Energy,” stated the CFPA. “However, the growth of the marine renewable industry has seen the Cromarty Firth develop in recent years and CFPA has invested heavily in its facilities to reflect its new position.”
(Source:www.offshore247.com)