PLANS to create 1000 skilled jobs on the Clyde moved closer to becoming a reality this week.
Staff and contractors from Malin Group, an oil and gas exploration service, visited the site which the company plans to develop into the only marine technology park in Europe.
News of the first steps towards construction at the site came a week after Scotland’s Finance Secretary Derek Mackay revealed his “Clyde Mission” – a plan to boost the river’s strengths in shipping and marine engineering, while breathing life into derelict land along the water.
Malin managing director John MacSween said: “We are excited about the potential that the Marine Technology Park offers Scotland’s marine industry and it was encouraging to see diggers on site this week as the work to develop the site gets under way.
READ MORE: Derek Mackay reveals River Clyde is at heart of ambitious plans
“The assumption with industry, especially the type of heavy industry traditionally associated with the Clyde, is that it has a negative impact on the environment.
“The Marine Technology Park marks a departure in that respect. Environmental remediation and protection is a major consideration for us and Malin’s development of the site will have a positive environmental impact.
“The measures we are taking will offer ongoing environmental protection for the River Clyde
and provide long-term benefits for the river, fish and other marine species.”
Before any work commences at the site in Old Kilpatrick, ecologists are advising on measures to prevent any harm coming to wildlife in the area.
A team of experts, including microbiologists from the University of Strathclyde, will also work closely with West Dunbartonshire Council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), using Bioremediation techniques to responsibly degrade the oil contamination at the site.
Remediation of fossil fuel sites is likely to become more common in the years ahead as the sector is phased out in efforts to address and mitigate the climate emergency.
The development of the Scottish Marine Technology Park could result in close to 1000 new jobs in the area, according to a recent economic impact study.
Bosses hope the park would be a centre of excellence for marine engineering and complex marine manufacturing, attracting a number of companies. According to bosses a number of companies have already expressed an interest in becoming tenants at the site.
The Scottish Marine Technology Park will include a large fabrication facility, a deep-water jetty with a 1100-tonne ship hoist – the largest of its kind in Europe – as well as a range of modern, on-site amenities.
It is due to be operational by 2024.
Malin Group operates around the world, but its roots are on the Clyde with a heritage dating back to 1879.
The marine company offers a range of services across the maritime sector.
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