Two Aberdeen-based engineering companies — PD&MS Energy and Harlen — have invested £2.5 million in a new 38,750ft2 oil-rig repair and sub-sea engineering facility at Princess Alexandra Wharf in Dundee. Up to 50 full-time people will initially be employed at the site, rising to more than 260 in the long term.
Dave MacKay, CEO of PD&MS Energy, said: “The buoyant offshore market and our extremely robust order book have given us the confidence to make a significant investment in these new premises and expand our offering in the decommissioning sector. This new workshop offers more space to house our growing workforce and improved infrastructure, allowing us to gear up for further new business going forward.”
PD&MS Energy is also planning new office space in Aberdeen to house up to 400 people as part of its growth plans. Last year, the firm won a multi-million-pound contract from BP to provide engineering, procurement and offshore construction services for upgrades on North Sea drilling platforms.
Bruce Gill, managing director of Harlen, said: “This facility increases our ability to support PD&MS in the rig repair market; its quayside location will also allow us to extend our offerings in sub-sea equipment, top-side modules, accommodation modules and large-scale fabrication. There are only a handful of companies in Scotland that can fabricate such significant pieces of offshore equipment; this investment places us among the top players.”
The news was well received in Dundee, where hopes of creating a renewable-energy hub at the port faded last month when Forth Energy — a joint venture between Perth-based energy giant SSE and Forth Ports — cancelled plans for a £325 million bio-mass plant.
Dundee Port manager Matt North said he was “delighted” with the new investment. “Dundee is quickly becoming known as the leading port in Scotland. It has a comprehensive and experienced supply chain to support the demand for maintenance, repair and decommissioning of North Sea vessels. We will work with both companies to attract further business to the port — and ultimately to secure further jobs for the city.”