Weekly update, 8th August

Energy and Business Services:
• Atlantis Resources Ltd has completed a deal with Belgian company DEME, who will be providing support (via its subsidiary Geosea) to the installation of the foundation structures for Phase 1a of the MeyGen project. DEME held an event in Caithness last November in association with CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), at which DEME Group representatives outlined the company’s experience and capabilities in offshore logistics. I was delighted to be able to visit the MeyGen building at Ness of Quoys this week with CNSRP Chairman Sir Anthony Cleaver, where we were able to see at first hand the final commissioning work taking place before the arrival next month of the tidal turbines. Many thanks to Eddie Scott of Atlantis Resources and Bruce Mackay of MeyGen for helping make this possible. http://renews.biz/103741/deme-completes-atlantis-deal/

Tourism, Food & Drink:
• Another two cruise ships visited Scrabster this week, bringing more than 500 visitors into the county. As before, CNSRP partner Highland Council supported the visits through the provision of shuttle buses from Scrabster into Thurso, and passengers were also able to take coach trips top key attractions such as the Castle of Mey. http://www.scrabster.co.uk/sectors/ferries/

Communications:
As part of an ongoing process of helping communicate progress with the delivery of aspects of our economic transition programme CNSRP’s partners work together to generate news stories for local, regional and national media. I also speak on a regular basis to individuals and organisations across the area to update on progress. This week:
• The CNSRP Executive Board met in Wick this week. I was able to give members an update on progress with the projects on the Partnership’s Programme, and also on the progress being made with the study currently being carried out by Ekos Consulting into the socio-economic impacts of Dounreay Decommissioning. The Study will also include comments and recommendations on the future direction of CNSRP. After the meeting Anna MacConnell of CNSRP partner the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority arranged a short site visit at the NDA Archive. It was hugely impressive to see the rapidly-progressing work on the building, and to be told by Morrison Construction’s Gordon Williamson of the complex infrastructure being put in place to make the complex a state-of-the-art facility.
• Myself, Simon Middlemas and June Love were this week invited by Willie Swanson of the GMB Union at Dounreay to meet Gary Smith, GMB Scotland Secretary, and GMB’s Peter Welsh during their visit to the site. We gave the presentation on future opportunities that we have delivered to around 150 workers at Dounreay, and had a very positive discussion on how best to deliver some of the opportunities we outlined.