Able has been awarded contracts by leading offshore contractor Allseas to dismantle, reuse and recycle two of the most significant North Sea decommissioning topside projects to date: TAQA UK’s Cormorant Alpha and Tern.
Able will take delivery of the topsides at its Teesside facility, Able Seaton Port (ASP), from 2027 onwards.
Up to 97% of the recovered Northern North Sea topsides’ materials will be reused or recycled, further cementing ASP’s position as an experienced and capable facility for large-scale marine decommissioning.
Dismantling of the combined 47 500 t weight of the Cormorant Alpha and Tern topsides will also generate substantial economic activity and long-term employment opportunities across Teesside.
Lance Taylor, Able Group Chief Executive Officer, says: “These decommissioning contract awards from Allseas for TAQA UK’s Tern and Cormorant Alpha topsides are a defining moment for Able Seaton Port and for UK decommissioning. They reflect the trust placed in us by Allseas to deliver on these significant projects for TAQA.
“We continue to invest millions of pounds into extending our capabilities – from building new quays to expanding infrastructure – ensuring we can handle larger and more complex projects in parallel. As a result, we are actively positioning ourselves to deliver more contracts, support more jobs and strengthen Teesside’s role at the centre of the global decommissioning industry.”
Allseas’ Vice President Projects, Matthijs Groenewegen, says: “This award marks another milestone in our collaboration with Able. Projects such as Tern and Cormorant Alpha showcase the strength of our single-lift removal technology, while Able’s proven expertise ensures these major topsides are safely and responsibly recycled, reflecting our shared commitment to sustainable North Sea decommissioning operations.”
TAQA UK Managing Director, Sandy Hutchison says: “TAQA UK’s asset-wide decommissioning programme positions us a leader in safe, efficient, late-life asset management and decommissioning in the UK. By working closely with Allseas, we’re pleased that our Cormorant Alpha and Tern topsides will be taken to a UK facility owned by Able Group for dismantling, reflecting our continued commitment to delivering lasting value to the UK’s energy sector and local communities.”
Pauline Innes, Director of Supply Chain and Decommissioning at the North Sea Transition Authority, says: “We very much welcome substantial decommissioning contracts being awarded to UK facilities. This is in line with the North Sea Transition Deal, in which the UK’s oil and gas industry pledged to support the country’s suppliers by giving them a fair share of decommissioning work, and we hope to see further onshore dismantling work being entrusted to the UK’s highly skilled supply chain.”