A subsidiary of McDermott International, Inc. (McDermott) has taken an option on a site to operate as a pipe spool base at the Port of Hartlepool which is owned and operated by PD Ports.
The site at Hartlepool, of approximately 30 acres, will allow McDermott to assemble long pipe stalks that will be spooled to their pipe-laying vessel for offshore oil and gas work. The facility, which is expected to be fully operational in 2015, will form an important part of McDermott’s portfolio enabling them to expand into new markets.
The Port of Hartlepool provides an ideal location for McDemott’s facility as it offers open access to the North Sea and is in an optimum location to serve the North Sea oil and gas markets.
Tony Duncan, Executive Vice President of Subsea said: “This agreement for the spool base is an important milestone towards supporting McDermott’s re-entry into the North Sea market.
“We look to combine the prime location of the Hartlepool spool base for quick access to project sites with McDermott’s high standards, and high-performance Reel-Lay capabilities provided by our Lay Vessel North Ocean 105. We are firmly committed to meeting our clients’ needs in the region.”
PD Ports’ Managing Director – Bulks and Port Services, Jerry Hopkinson, added: “This is another good news story for Hartlepool and for McDermott. The establishment of a permanent spool base at Hartlepool consolidates the port’s position as the home to a thriving cluster of offshore related businesses and adds to the existing successes of Heerema Offshore and JDR Cables already located within the Port of Hartlepool. We wish McDermott every success with this venture and will seek to give them every support as they grow their business in the North Sea.”
