v.3.

3 Sept 2019
Kishorn Port & Dry Dock
Applecross, Scotland
Opportunities for the Oil & Gas &
Offshore Renewable Energy Sectors
A History of the Kishorn Yard
and Dry Dock
since 1972
 The Kishorn Yard and Dry Dock lies at the head
of the deep fjord-like Loch Kishorn. A deep
channel gives access to the North Atlantic via
the Sound of Raasay and The Minch

Kishorn
 Satellite photo of N. Scotland showing the
location of Kishorn

Kishorn
Aerial photo of the Kishorn Yard taken in 2013 with
the Applecross mountains in the background and
the Bealach na Ba road winding up to the Pass. At
626m, it is the 3rd highest road in Scotland
Aerial photo of the Kishorn Yard taken in 2013 with
Skye and Raasay in the distance. Loch Kishorn is a
deep sheltered sea loch with water depths in excess
of 100m
The History of the Kishorn Yard
from the
1970’s to 2019
 1975 to 1978
The Ninian Central
Concrete Production Platform
In the early 1970’s, 1.8 million tonnes of Torridonian
Sandstone was blasted out of the mountainside to
create the dry dock and Howard Doris Ltd started to
build the Ninian Central oil platform in August 1975
for Chevron Petroleum (UK) Ltd
Over 3,000 people were employed to construct
the concrete platform. They were locally called
the “Kishorn Commandoes” and lived in a camp
on the site
The 140m diameter concrete base weighed 157,000
tonnes when it was floated out into Loch Kishorn in
September 1976. Each concrete caisson gate is 84m
wide and weighs 11,000t empty and 30,000t when
flooded
The construction of the platform
continued in the Loch taking
advantage of the sheltered conditions
and deep water
The completed height of the concrete base was
156 metres and it was built to stand in a water
depth of 136 metres in the harsh conditions of the
North Sea east of the Shetland Isles
The base was towed into the Inner Raasay Sound
in August 1977 where the 6,700t steel deck
structure was welded to the platform base. 15
modules totalling 17,000t were then installed
bringing her final weight to over 600,000 tonnes
In May 1978 a total of 8 tugs towed the
completed platform 480 miles to the Ninian
oilfield, east of Shetland. It took 11.5 days.
It is the second biggest floating structure ever
built and is still in production 40 years later
 1972 to 1988
“The Boom Years”
A photo of the dry dock taken in late 1976. Note
the concrete batching plants in the foreground
which used aggregates imported from Kyleakin
on Skye and cement imported by barge from a
rail depot at Strome Ferry
This photo was taken in early
1981 and demonstrates the
busy nature of the Yard and its
complex infrastructure. The
pre-casting yard for the Ninian
Central flotation chamber roof
domes is in the foreground.
The 900t Tog Mor heavy duty
floating derrick crane barge is
in the background. It could lift
a load of 400t at a 72m
outreach and is still in service,
mainly laying pipelines in the
Far East.
Another photo of the Yard from the early 1980’s.
A Heerema barge is berthed against the open
piled quay and is being used as a platform for steel
fabrication for the Maureen Alpha
Over 3,000 personnel worked at the site and
were accommodated in a camp (in the
foreground) and on two floating “hotels”
anchored alongside. There was a police station
on site and extensive welfare facilities
The Maureen Alpha steel deck structure was
fabricated by Howard Doris at the eastern end
of the Yard in 1981/83. The platform weighing
in at 110,000t was the largest steel gravity
structure in the North Sea
In 1981, Phillips Petroleum
contracted Howard Doris to
construct an articulated
concrete loading column for
the Maureen oilfield. 5
concrete sections were cast
in the dry dock.
The Maureen Alpha platform
was assembled at Kishorn
and was floated out in 1983.
The Maureen structures were
decommissioned in 2001
after producing 200 million
barrels of oil.
Many other oil and gas
structures were
manufactured or assembled
at Kishorn
In 1985, Howard Doris was given the contract for
re-commissioning the 12 years old 12,000t Buchan
Alpha, a semi-submersible production platform. In
2018 the decommissioning of the platform
commenced at Dales Voe in Shetland.
 1992
The Skye Bridge
In 1992 the dry dock was re-
opened to enable two 17m
diameter, 13m high concrete
caissons to be manufactured.
These two caissons each
weighed 2,300 tonnes and
support the 250m main span
of the Skye Bridge. The
bridge was built by Miller –
Dywidag at a cost of £24m.
The caissons were floated out
in February 1993 and towed
the 15km to the construction
site. The bridge was opened
in 1995 and carries over
600,000 vehicles per year
The Skye Bridge is 500metres long and is a pre-
stressed concrete haunched structure and uses the
principle of a balanced cantilever in its design
 1999
Ferguson Transport
arrive at Kishorn
Ferguson Transport & Shipping is a family
owned logistics and shipping business, primarily
engaged in the transport of timber and
aquaculture products. It has large warehousing
facilities at Kishorn together with dock handling
machinery
Ferguson Transport & Shipping operate a
fleet of vessels delivering fish feed and
other dry cargoes throughout the west
coast of Scotland
Ferguson Transport & Shipping operate a large
HGV fleet that delivers products throughout
the UK and has its Head Office at Corpach,
near Fort William
 2006
Leiths arrive at Kishorn
Leiths (Scotland) Ltd are a family owned
quarrying and construction materials
company. They operate a Torridonian
Sandstone quarry at Kishorn
Leiths (Scotland) Ltd operate 14 quarries
throughout Scotland and are a major
supplier of ready mixed concrete to the
construction sector
The Leiths quarry at Kishorn has over 6.5
million tonnes of reserves and can
manufacture high quality concrete for oil,
gas and renewable energy structures
 2008
The Formation of
Kishorn Port Ltd
 Kishorn Port Limited
50:50 Joint venture between Ferguson Transport &
Shipping and Leiths created in 2008 with the
objective of re- generating the Kishorn Yard and Dry
Dock as a major facility for the manufacturing and
distribution of renewable energy components,
decommissioning and support to the oil and gas
sector.
 2008/2009
The Raasay Ferry Terminal
In 2008/9 Leiths supplied the concrete to
Balfour Beatty for the manufacture of the
“lego” building blocks for the new £12m
Raasay Ferry Terminal
Ferguson Transport and Shipping provided
the logistical support from Kishorn for the
construction of the new Ferry Terminal in
Churchton Bay, Raasay
The new Ferry Terminal was opened in
August 2010 and connects the ferry service
from Sconser on the Isle of Skye.
There is a concrete slipway at Kishorn
which can be used for loading plant,
equipment and supplies onto RO-RO
vessels
Barges and vessels can be loaded out at
Kishorn with timber, armour stone and
other bulk supplies
 2012 / 2013
The Masterplan &
Regeneration of the Kishorn Yard
and Dry Dock
In 2013 Planning Permission and a Marine Licence was granted for
the establishment of a renewable energy construction facility at
Kishorn.
Permission was granted for the restoration of the quay structures
on site; an extension to the quarry; reclamation of 9ha of the
coastline; the erection of an accommodation facility, offices and
industrial buildings; floating load out quay etc..
Anchorages for floating offshore wind and oil and gas structures
were included.
The planning permission anticipated that the Yard would be used
to support the offshore renewables industry and for oil and gas
fabrication and decommissioning projects.
Masterplan site plan
with proposed
development
Drone photo of the dry dock taken in 2016
prior to the commencement of the contract
with Harris Pye to bring the facility back into
operation
 2017
Regeneration of the Kishorn Yard
and Dry Dock continues
 2017 / 2018
• £2m investment made in infrastructure and proving the dry dock, assisted by
funding from HIE and the Decommissioning Challenge Fund (DCF) which included:
– Fabrication of new gate seals and hatch covers
– Abutments excavated and strengthened
– Dock gates pumped out and floated
– Access ramp completed into the bottom of the dry dock and concrete surface added
– Installation of fendering to the flooding tubes
– New internal access roads installed
– All steel retaining structures given cathodic protection
– Full set of dewatering pumps purchased and storage shed installed
– Superficial repairs to the concrete gates undertaken
– East abutment lay down area repaired and strengthened
– Dry dock gates certified by Bureau Veritas as fit for purpose
In March 2017 after undertaking repairs to
the abutments, installing new seals and
checking the buoyancy of the gates, the 6no.
12” pumps were turned on and dewatering
of the dry dock commenced.
After 3 days of pumping, the concrete floor of
the dry dock was revealed. Note the spectral
imprint of the Ninian Central platform.
Reflooding the dock takes two tidal cycles.
An 8m wide ramp has been blasted into
the floor of the dry dock and concreted
to allow easy vehicular access. Only
limited pumping is needed to maintain
the dock in a dry condition
Late 2018 - the dry dock ready for its first
project. Further infrastructure works are in
hand to facilitate decommissioning activities
and oil and gas support services
 2019
KPL secures its first major contract
Diamond Offshore’s
Ocean GreatWhite
The 118m long, 6274t “Panthera” arrives from
Singapore in advance of the Ocean GreatWhite
with her multi-million pound cargo of risers
and thrusters
Ferguson Transport & Shipping are retained to
undertake stevedoring and marine support to
the Ocean GreatWhite and offload the cargo
onto the floor of the dry dock
Diamond Offshore Drilling Internationals’
60,700t semi-submersible drilling rig, the Ocean
GreatWhite arrives in Loch Kishorn in January
2019. She is the largest rig of its type in the
world and was anchored in the loch during her
mobilisation programme
The Ocean GreatWhite took advantage of the
deep sheltered waters of Loch Kishorn and is
currently undertaking a number of drilling
programs in the harsh Atlantic environment to
the West of Shetland
The Ocean GreatWhite from a helicopter with
the snow capped Applecross Mountains in the
background
A dramatic night photo of the Ocean
GreatWhite. She is capable of drilling a
35,000ft borehole in 10,000ft of water.
A drone photograph taken in February 2019
illustrating the increased level of activity at
Kishorn
The thrusters and risers are transhipped to the
Ocean GreatWhite as she gets ready for
departure
The thrusters and risers being craned onto the
dry dock gates before being loaded onto the
“Balmoral” oil support vessel
The Ocean GreatWhite was supported by a
number of vessels during her mobilisation
The Ocean GreatWhite departs Kishorn to the
Blackrock prospect off Shetland in early March
2019 accompanied by the Maersk Maker, a
brand new anchor handling tug supply vessel

67
 Works continue at Kishorn during 2019
– Access and safety infrastructure for dry dock gates and open piled quay completed
– Completed a further programme of concrete repairs to gates and dry dock floor
– Marine surveys undertaken and anchorage bathymetry confirmed
– Waste Management Licence for decommissioning secured from SEPA – March 2019
– Drainage system/oil interceptors installed during the Spring of 2019
– 360 degree anchors for holding gates manufactured and installed in Loch Kishorn
in August 2019
Drainage system and oil interceptors installed in
Spring 2019 to meet the requirements of the Waste
Management Licence
Two 125t 360 degree swivel anchor arrays with
mooring buoy manufactured and installed in Loch
Kishorn during August 2019. Capable of holding the
30,000 tonne caisson gates.
The anchors will enable the floating gates to be
secured during the cycling of the dry dock and
reduce the requirement and costs for tugs in
attendance
 Works planned for Kishorn in 2020
and beyond
– On site accommodation for 32 personnel, including welfare, canteen, laundry etc
– LIDAR buoy and weather station in Loch Kishorn
– Dock winches for gate manoeuvring
– Reclamation of the foreshore and creation of extra lay down land
– Installation of 400t ground anchors behind the open-piled quay
– Deep water heavy lift quay
– Engineering and fabrication buildings
– Concrete surfacing of the east abutment area for materials storage
Support to the Offshore Oil & Gas
industry, Decommissioning and
Offshore Renewable Energy are the
three target business sectors
Support to the Offshore Oil and Gas sector

– In 2019, Kishorn successfully hosted the remobilisation of Diamond

Offshores’ semi-submersible drilling platform, the Ocean GreatWhite
– Large floating oil and gas structures can be anchored in the deep
water of Loch Kishorn, berthed alongside or laid down in the dry dock
– The 160m diameter dry dock with 13.8m of draft is ideal for
fabrication, extension of life and survey work
– Large areas of laydown land adjacent to the dry dock
– Stevedoring and marine support available on site through Ferguson
Transport and Shipping
 Decommissioning of Floating Oil and Gas
Structures
– Scotland requires facilities and capacity to handle a range of structures
and materials. Kishorn is an ideal containment facility for the
decommissioning of floating assets
– Onshore activities will be primarily dismantling and waste
management
– Structures will be taken into Kishorn before being broken down into
transferable loads and transported to suitably licensed disposal and
recycling facilities as part of a circular economy
– A Waste Management Licence (WML) is the appropriate SEPA
authorisation for the proposed decommissioning activities at Kishorn.
This was secured in March 2019
– Oil interceptors and a dry dock drainage system have been installed
 Offshore renewable energy
– Kishorn dry dock and adjacent land is ideal for the
fabrication/manufacture of steel or concrete foundations for floating
or gravity based structures for the renewable energy sector
– The deep water channel in Loch Kishorn is ideal for the up-ending of
spar-type foundations for floating wind
– Leiths’ on-site quarry with over 6.5 million tonnes of reserves is a
sustainable source of aggregates and concrete
– The comprehensive Masterplan approved the serial manufacture of
8,000 tonne structures and KPL has marine licences for the temporary
anchored storage of completed structures in Loch Kishorn
 Summary of features and facilities available at
Kishorn:
• 80m deep channel in Loch Kishorn
• 100m+ deep sheltered berths in Raasay Sound
• 160m diameter Dry Dock with 13.8m of water at highest tide
• 3 no. hard edged quays with 8m of water at high tide and
20m+ within a barge length of the open-piled quay.
• On-site quarry with concrete batching facilities and excellent
aggregates – 6.5 million tonnes
• Stevedoring, warehousing and transport facilities
• Extensive hard standings and lay down areas
• Full planning permission and marine licencing
• SEPA Waste Management Licence for decommissioning
 KISHORN PORT LTD
Integrated Freight Facility
Annat Corpach PH33 7NN
www.kishornport.co.uk
T: +44 (0) 1397 773840
F: +44 (0) 1397 773851

Contacts:
Alasdair Ferguson, Director T: 01397 773840
M: 07765 234880
E: alasdair@kishornportltd.co.uk

Simon Russell, Director T: 01224 876333

M: 07710 621542
E: simon@kishornportltd.co.uk

A joint venture between Ferguson Transport (Spean Bridge) Ltd and Leiths (Scotland Ltd)
Registered Office: Integrated Freight Facility, Annat, Corpach, PH33 7NN. Registered in Scotland: SC350620