Muckle advises on major decommissioning project
A new offshore decommissioning partnership between Port of Blyth and Thompsons of Prudhoe is to move forward with a £1m investment to enhance the decom facilities at the Northumberland port.
Lawyers in our Real Estate team helped to deliver the investment, with partner James Armstrong leading the legal advice to Port of Blyth on the deal.
Enhancing UK offshore decommissioning
The partnership, which combines the considerable onshore decommissioning and waste disposal experience of Thompsons of Prudhoe with the port location and significant offshore experience offered by the port, was announced in February.
Now the businesses are pushing ahead with a £1m investment into improvements that will enhance the UK offshore decommissioning capability.
The enhancements at the open access facility at the port’s Battleship Wharf terminal include the construction of over 1 hectare of heavily reinforced impermeable concrete ground slabs and complex drainage system for surface water catchment and treatment.
Rapid expansion
Having been awarded an Environment Agency permit in 2018, the port has already completed several offshore decom projects but is now in a position to significantly expand its capacity alongside one of the UK’s most trusted demolition and decommissioning contractors.
Strategically located on the UK’s east coast, the facility offers a common-user 2.3ha designated site handling up to 50,000 tonnes of materials per year including NORM and is well placed to serve all sectors of the North Sea.
The expansion works are expected to be completed by the end of June 2020 with the facility remaining open for business throughout.
Overcoming COVID-19 challenges
Alan Todd, port director of Port of Blyth, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to commence these works and look forward to hitting construction milestones in the coming weeks.
“With careful planning and strict guidelines in place we have been able to begin work despite the obvious challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
John Thompson Snr MBE, chairman of Thompsons of Prudhoe, said: “We are delighted with the construction progress being made, especially during these challenging times.
“We look forward to supporting the Offshore Industry with their increasing demand for onshore dismantling and waste disposal services for 2020 and beyond.”
James Armstrong, Muckle LLP partner, added: “It was a pleasure to work with Port of Blyth again. They are a much valued and longstanding client, who play such an important role in the UK and North East offshore sector, so we were delighted to help deliver the investment to move this exciting new venture forward.”
For help with your commercial property legal needs, contact James Armstrong on 0191 211 7977 or email [email protected]