Misstee
Well-known member
Hi everyone, be gentle with me as this is my first report.
Hubby and I were having a little jolly on the east coast and while waiting for the ferry from Nigg to Cromarty, we were parked right beside the Highlands Fabricators yard – or the welding school to be more precise.
Only had a point and click camera with me and not able to miss the ferry, so these are taken from outside the perimeter fence but it looks a great site and might be of some interest for further exploration by others in the Highland contingent. (Note for future: would love to join you guys but being built more for comfort than high fences and dodgy floors – I’ll stick to “through the fence” shots for now!)
So, a little bit of background:
Highlands Fabricators Ltd was part of the huge oil and gas terminal building industry based around the Cromarty Firth. Known as Hi-Fab, the yard opened in 1972 and at its height employed around 5000 people from all over the Highlands. For 30 years, the success of the business could be seen by anyone travelling in the area but the number of rigs lined up in the firth awaiting repairs.
The last major contract was completed in 1999.
Although there have been plans submitted to re-open at least part of the operation to bring jobs to the area, the ownership of the site is split and no-one has been able to offer a solution which meets the approval of both parties.
The situation has even been raised in the Westminster Parliament by local MP, Charles Kennedy but I was unable to find any information about positive moves forward although it has been suggested that the size of the dock and space available would make the site ideal for producing giant wind turbines.
The whole site extends to some 240 acres – I have just captured a few shots of the welding school which is based right at the Nigg Ferry terminal.
Grafitti
Moving gear by the ferry slipway
Ferry - used by workers in the past but now mainly a tourist treat
Looking back towards the site from the ferry
There’s a lovely article here written by a lady who actually trained and worked here from 1973: http://www.cromartylivingbythesea.co.uk/Interviewees-g.asp?intent=show&aid=53
More pics in my photobucket: http://s876.photobucket.com/albums/ab326/Misstee_reports/Hi-Fab Aug 09/
Thanks for looking.
Hubby and I were having a little jolly on the east coast and while waiting for the ferry from Nigg to Cromarty, we were parked right beside the Highlands Fabricators yard – or the welding school to be more precise.
Only had a point and click camera with me and not able to miss the ferry, so these are taken from outside the perimeter fence but it looks a great site and might be of some interest for further exploration by others in the Highland contingent. (Note for future: would love to join you guys but being built more for comfort than high fences and dodgy floors – I’ll stick to “through the fence” shots for now!)
So, a little bit of background:
Highlands Fabricators Ltd was part of the huge oil and gas terminal building industry based around the Cromarty Firth. Known as Hi-Fab, the yard opened in 1972 and at its height employed around 5000 people from all over the Highlands. For 30 years, the success of the business could be seen by anyone travelling in the area but the number of rigs lined up in the firth awaiting repairs.
The last major contract was completed in 1999.
Although there have been plans submitted to re-open at least part of the operation to bring jobs to the area, the ownership of the site is split and no-one has been able to offer a solution which meets the approval of both parties.
The situation has even been raised in the Westminster Parliament by local MP, Charles Kennedy but I was unable to find any information about positive moves forward although it has been suggested that the size of the dock and space available would make the site ideal for producing giant wind turbines.
The whole site extends to some 240 acres – I have just captured a few shots of the welding school which is based right at the Nigg Ferry terminal.
Grafitti
Moving gear by the ferry slipway
Ferry - used by workers in the past but now mainly a tourist treat
Looking back towards the site from the ferry
There’s a lovely article here written by a lady who actually trained and worked here from 1973: http://www.cromartylivingbythesea.co.uk/Interviewees-g.asp?intent=show&aid=53
More pics in my photobucket: http://s876.photobucket.com/albums/ab326/Misstee_reports/Hi-Fab Aug 09/
Thanks for looking.