Rigmarine Opens Aberdeen Facility

Lifting and marine product specialist Rigmarine has opened its fourth global facility in the rural village of Insch, 30 miles to the northwest of Aberdeen, Scotland.

The site, strategically positioned to serve the offshore oil and gas, renewables, construction, break bulk, shipping and marine industries, joins other Rigmarine locations in Baku, Azerbaijan; Aktau, Kazakhstan; and Sharjah, UAE. As part of the Gaylin Group, this is the 10th international hub alongside others in Singapore, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, China and Indonesia. Mike Duncan, managing director of the Gaylin Group of companies, said: “The facility gives Aberdeen a new source of heavy-lift rigging available on short- or long-term rental at respectable prices and with low lead times. We will hold the largest stock of heavy-lift rigging as well as a full range of subsea lifting equipment, including winches, spreader beams, load monitoring equipment and complete rigging lofts. We will also use the facility as a European hub for our spooling services and winch packages.” Below-the-hook specialist Modulift in addition to force measurement, load monitoring and suspended weighing load cell equipment manufacturer Straightpoint are among those who have committed to supplying the new facility. Rigmarine, meanwhile, will manufacture wire rope slings up to 128mm diameter. Duncan added: “The facility will boast a number of key features that are unique to the UK, including alternative manufacturing methods for heavy-lift slings and test beds up to 2,000t.” He is candid about the flatness of the offshore oil and gas sector in the region—the industry is cautiously optimistic about the outlook, at best—but believes now is the right time to commit to the sector as offshore clients, particularly those working subsea, are seeking suppliers who can diversify and offer cost reducing initiatives as well as multi-disciplined packages. He said: “We acknowledge that the [oil and gas] industry has endured a slump but it is getting better. There is work out there for companies like us who are willing to turn over stones to find it and put the effort into cost efficient rigging solutions for our clients, whilst carrying a bit of the liability ourselves, as proven by the number of multi-million Euro contracts we have already delivered out of Insch. We are in ongoing dialogue with our customers and tailor solutions that offer savings on capital expenditure accordingly.” The site, which will draw from the area’s pool of skilled workers and those seek new challenges, was previously used as an office, fabrication workshop and yard, but it has since been customised by Rigmarine. Duncan explained that the business will be controlled under the Rigmarine Group quality management structure, that he calls one of the most advanced in the lifting industry and has been proven successful at other locations. He added: “We will build up a skilled workforce through the Rigmarine accredited training programmes as well as third-party qualifications, and offer modern apprenticeship schemes to job seekers in the local area.”