Historic Projects

In the early 1970’s, 1.8 million tonnes of Torridonian Sandstone was blasted out of the mountainside to create the dry dock and Howard Doris Ltd started to build the Ninian Central oil platform in August 1975 for Chevron Petroleum (UK) Ltd. Over 3,000 people were employed to construct the concrete platform. They were locally called the “Kishorn Commandos” and lived in a camp on the site. Due to planning and travel constraints, the location was considered an island so all materials and employees were brought in by sea or air.

Serviced in Kishorn Port, BP’s ‘Buchan Alpha 18,000 tonne structure was modified for a major refit and conversion to gas lift operations for the North Sea. Pre-planning and daily scheduling were essential to the completion of this project, fitting new and serviced piping, ducting and wiring to the existing systems. Followed by a rigorous and comprehensive programme of testing and reinstatement, monitored by Lloyd’s quality assurance personnel on site. Due to extensive deep water moorings in sheltered waters, Kishorn Port is a primary location to build, modify, up-date and repair structures for the on and offshore industries.

In 1981, Phillips Petroleum contracted Howard Doris to construct an articulated concrete loading column for the Maureen Platform, 5 concrete sections were cast in Kishorn Dry Dock. The platform weighing in at 110,000 tonne was the largest steel gravity structure in the North Sea and once complete was floated out in 1983 on a barge to be mated with the jacket structure which was built on the east coast.

The Skye Bridge is 500 metres long and is a prestressed concrete haunched structure road bridge and uses the principle of a balanced cantilever in its design. Construction of the Skye Bridge began in 1992, with the design focused on providing direct access from Kyle of Lochalsh to the Isle of Skye.