Another giant step for Able yard

Jul 3 2009 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

ANOTHER giant of the seas has floated down the Tees to undergo work at Able UK’s Seaton Port.

Weighing in at a whopping 6,370 tons, the ENSCO 72 jack-up rig is now berthed at Quay One at TERRC (Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre).

The rig is an impressive structure - its three legs are over 100m high and the triangular shaped platform is 76m long.

Until recently the rig was working in the Wenlock field 95km to the North-east off the North Norfolk coast, and the owners, ENSCO Offshore UK, will now undertake routine maintenance.

Peter Stephenson, Able UK’s executive chairman, said: “The decision by the owners to bring ENSCO 72 here serves to underline the burgeoning reputation of Able UK in the global market and is further evidence of the diversity and flexibility of Able Seaton Port.”

Although ENSCO 72 is a temporary visitor, significant longer term activity is taking place at Able Seaton Port and TERRC.

Dismantling work on the British, American and French ships - including another giant, the former aircraft carrier Le Clemenceau - will start later this summer.

At the same time the recycling of the BP North West Hutton platform continues at the east end of the TERRC site. A third barge, carrying part of the former oil rig’s legs – the jacket – will arrive in the next few days.