30.01.2012

Weldex plans new base

UK based crawler crane specialist Weldex is planning to open a new base at the Nigg Yard in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland.

The Inverness headquartered business is currently in discussions with Global Energy Group, which acquired the yard late last year. The company plans to use the facility in order to step up its lifting and rigging services to the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors.

Chief executive Doug McGilvray is quoted as saying: ”This is a major recruitment opportunity locally as we plan to significantly expand our current 135 strong workforce over the next few years, using riggers, banksmen and operators, freshly qualified by us in the Highlands as our on-going recruitment stream."
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The Nigg yard

The Nigg yard on the east side of Nigg Bay, near Invergordon, was set up in 1972 to service the North Sea oil and gas sector and build oil rigs, at its peak it employed around 5,000 but most of it has been closed and mothballed since 2005. It covers 238 acres (96.14 hectares) and includes some substantial buildings.

Global Energy said that it plans to develop the site as a service hub for the energy industry and expects that the location will eventually employ up to 2,000 people. Highlands and Islands Enterprise has already pledged £1.8 million to help transform the site into what Scottish government sources call a "multi-use modern energy park".