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    North Sea Ninian topsides arrives at Lerwick for disposal

    Aug. 31, 2020
    Lerwick Port Authority in the far north of the British Isles has received its largest offshore structure to date for decommissioning.
    (Photo: Rory Gillies/Shetland Flyer Aerial Media)
    The Pioneering Spirit arrives in Dales Voe with the Ninian Northern platform topsides for decommissioning.
    The Pioneering Spirit arrives in Dales Voe with the Ninian Northern platform topsides for decommissioning.

    Offshore staff

    LERWICK, UK – Lerwick Port Authority in the far north of the British Isles has received its largest offshore structure to date for decommissioning.

    CNR International’s 14,200-metric ton (15,653-ton) Ninian Northern platform topsides was delivered last Friday by Allseas’ cargo barge Iron Lady.

    Earlier, Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit had removed the topsides in a single-lift operation from the Ninian oil field, 100 mi (161 km) northeast of Shetland. This was the first complete northern North Sea topsides load-in at Lerwick: Veolia/Peterson is responsible for dismantling the structure, with a 97% recycling target.

    Also on Friday, the Authority inaugurated a new, heavy-duty decommissioning pad at Dales Voe Base, designed and project-managed by Arch Henderson and constructed by Tulloch Developments.

    This features an impermeable surface and a 60-metric ton/sq m (66-ton/sq m) load compatible with the quayside capacity. In addition, the quayside design provides an 800-metric ton/m (881-ton/m) loading for transfer of the topsides from the barge across the quayside.

    8/31/2020