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Offshore energy services firm Maritime Developments Ltd (MDL) has revealed plans to take up quayside at Peterhead Port with a £12 million expansion plan.
The firm, which was founded at the north-east port in 1999, will establish the MDL Energy Service Base on over 150,000 sq ft of land at Smith Embankment with access to the port on Smith Quay.
Previously the quay had been leased to NorSea UK following demolition of the old fish market in 2014. Peterhead Port Authority (PPA) has since been planning a £30m expansion for the quay and the embankment, with a new masterplan envisaging adding 260ft (80m) to the existing 395ft (120m) and widening a berthing dolphin by 80ft (25m), which will allow access to vessels upwards of 180m in length. Expansion is expected to be complete 2027/28.
Peterhead Port remains the largest fisheries port in Europe. But with the likes of occupants like ASCO and MDL it also has a significant, and growing, focus on on energy services.
The port is a key hub in the ambitions of the area as the development of offshore wind continues, with key ScotWind and Intog wind projects such as Broadshore, Buchan, Cenos, Green Volt, Marram Win and Muir Mhor all expected to connect to the grid via Peterhead.
Other recent interventions in the area include the UK government backing the Acorn carbon capture and storage (CCS) at nearby St Fergus gas terminal with a £200m grant for feasibility studies. The Treasury also recently confirmed the North East Scotland Investment Zone which is understood to take in around 200 hectares of land in the area offering tax incentives for investment.
A recent report estimated investment in energy projects over the next ten years will reach £1 billion and create 800 jobs each year, according to Biggar Economics.
The MDL Energy Service Base will provide handling and storage services for power cables and mooring lines destined for new offshore wind developments, as well as enabling replacement and repair of flexibles as part of North Sea oil field extension and decomissioning.
The multipurpose facility will also be used as MDL marine operations base and will host its fleet of portable flex-lay technology for offshore deployment, as well as project management and engineering services for managing vessel mobilisations – consolidating the company’s 25-year presence in the town since its inception.
Last year MDL opened a £6m, 62,000 sq. ft headquarters and workshop in Aberdeen and as well as an office in Paris alongside the tier 1 and tier 2 energy services firms that make up the subsea industry there.
MDL plans to invest over £12m at the site over the next three years.
© Supplied by Maritime DevelopmentDerek Smith, CEO of MDL, said: “This new Peterhead facility is a milestone in MDL’s journey – purpose-built to support the energy transition, but with immediate value for today’s operations.
“With direct access to the quayside, it strengthens our ability to offer turnkey support to offshore contractors and operators, through a central hub for equipment
preparation, servicing and support.
“As offshore wind activity ramps up, the sector will need dependable partners with the track record and knowhow to support every phase of the project lifecycle – from construction through to ongoing field operations.
“From dynamic risers and buoyancy modules to cable connectors and mooring lines, these complex systems demand ongoing care and expert handling – and that falls exactly within MDL’s 25-year expertise.
“At the same time, we are perfectly placed to support maximising output from existing operations through
timely O&M response, as well as enabling efficient decommissioning scopes for those end-of-life projects – making this a base designed specifically for the future, but very much considered for the present.
“From fishing to oil and gas, and now renewables, MDL has always been about servicing the life of the field – and this base reflects that legacy while preparing us for the future of energy in the North Sea. It’s another step in our ongoing drive to innovate, diversify and support the sector through every chapter of its evolution.
“And so, the MDL Energy Service Base is not just a reflection of our ambition, but of our deep-rooted commitment to serving the marine and energy industries for the long term.”
© Supplied by Peterhead Port AuthoGraeme Reid, CEO of PPA, said: “The collaboration with MDL is a proud moment for Peterhead and a testament to the strength of our local supply chain and potential of our local community. By welcoming this new facility, which will take advantage
of the Port’s fantastic existing and planned infrastructure, we’re not only supporting the future of offshore energy but also creating meaningful opportunities for local people and businesses.”
“It’s about building a sustainable future together—one that keeps Peterhead at the heart of innovation while staying true to our roots as a hardworking, forward-looking port town.”
