The new offshore decommissioning partnership between Port of Blyth and Thompsons of Prudhoe has taken another step forward with £1m works to enhance the existing decom 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 offshore decommissioning capability.
 
The enhancements at the open access facility include the construction of over one 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 we have been able to begin the 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 with the facility remaining open for business throughout.
 
About Port of Blyth
Port of Blyth is the port operating division of Blyth Harbour Commission, an independent statutory trust established in 1882 and is one of the largest Trust Port’s in the UK handling up to 2 million tonnes of cargo per annum across four terminals based around the River Blyth.
 
Together with major logistics and training divisions, the Port group turned over £21.9 million in 2018/19 and despite challenging global trading conditions has again set numerous records for performance for the year.
 
Such success has been driven by growth across a variety of sectors but particularly offshore energy (oil & gas and wind) with the Port is now recognised as a major strategic east coast base supporting the sector. Other trade handled includes containers, dry bulks (coal, aggregates, cement etc) and marine fuels.
 
As a Trust Port, all profits are re-invested back into the Port to improve facilities and to provide benefits for its wider stakeholders.
 
About Thompsons of Prudhoe
Thompsons of Prudhoe is a specialist Deconstruction, Decommissioning, Dismantling, Demolition, Asbestos Removal, Decontamination and Waste Disposal Contractor operating across the UK.
 
Operating across the Oil & Gas, Nuclear, Petrochemical, Pharmaceutical and Construction Industry sectors, Thompsons of Prudhoe remains a family owned business, operating for over 70 years and directly employing in excess of 300 employees.
 
The company strongly believes in the growth and development of both its loyal and long-serving workforce, as well as local communities. It continuously invests into the training and upskilling of its workforce and the purchasing of new and advanced plant and equipment.
 
Its commitment to QHSE excellence and technical performance is demonstrated by a number of prominent awards, externally validated certifications, accreditations and memberships.
 
Thompsons of Prudhoe is a long standing member of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) and the Asbestos Removal Contactor’s Association (ARCA). Its staff are also members of the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE) and Chartered Institution of Waste Management (CIWM).