The new decommissioning partnership between Port of Blyth and Thompsons of Prudhoe has taken another step forward with works to enhance the existing decommissioning facilities underway at the Northumberland port.
Having announced in February that the new collaboration was to combine the considerable onshore decommissioning and waste disposal experience of Thompsons of Prudhoe with the port location and significant offshore experience offered by Port of Blyth, the partners are now pushing ahead with a £1m investment into improvements that will enhance the UK onshore decommissioning capability.
The enhancements at the open access facility include the construction of over 1 hectare of heavily reinforced impermeable concrete ground slabs and complex drainage system for surface water catchment and treatment.
Having been awarded an Environment Agency permit in 2018, Port of Blyth 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.
Regarding the works, 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 our contractors, NB Clarke, have been able to begin their 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”.
The expansion works are expected to be completed by the end of June 2020 with the facility remaining open for business throughout.
Site Details
- Environmental Permit (EPR/RP3337RN) in place to handle 50,000 tonne of Oil & Gas assets per year
- Environmental Permit (EPR/UB3496DU/ A001) for the handling of NORM contaminated materials
- Site situated 100m from berth/heavy lift quay with 50m wide access route
- Site includes heavy load pads, impermeable surfaces, interceptors, water recycling & bunded quarantine areas
- Quay & decom site suitable for pieces up to 5,000 tonnes with 25 tonne/m2 point loads and uniform loads to 10 tonnes/m2
Location & Navigation
- Strategic North Sea decom location on the east coast of the UK
- Tidal deep water port accessible in virtually all weather conditions
- No locking in or out and direct access to open sea
- No air draft restrictions
- Vessels up to 220 LOA, 50m beam and 9.5m draft
- Heavy lift quays to 9.0m below LAT
Facilities & Management
- Fully permitted 2.3 hectare decom site
- Environment Permits for Oil and Gas Decommissioning & NORM handling
- Onsite SPMTs and heavy lift crane availability
- Adherence to CDM Regulations 2015
- Provision of In-House Structural Engineering
- Dedicated QHSE Management