Dundee’s MSPs have vowed to fight to bring lucrative North Seaoil decommissioning contracts to the city.
If secured, almost 700 jobs could be created at the city’s port — double the current workforce.
Before the Holyrood election on May 5, Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick — who were re-elected in the Dundee City East and West constituencies — visited the city’s port.
They met with bosses of Forth Ports, which operates the site. The firm has invested £10 million to ensure large cargoes from the North Sea can be handled there.
It’s recently been estimated that the decommissioning industry could be worth $100 billion.
The pair had vowed to make securing Dundee a share of the work a priority ahead of the election, and Ms Robison confirmed she would be discussing it with Economy Secretary Keith Brown “as a matter of urgency”.
However, Labour’s Jenny Marra, the North East regional MSP who is based in Dundee, said that opportunities were already being missed.
She said: “The investment by Forth Ports in the Port of Dundee is welcome but this needs to be matched by action from the Scottish Government.
“I will continue to push the Scottish Government and do whatever it takes to deliver decommissioning jobs for our city as we need a working river, not just a Waterfront.”
Alison Henderson, chief executive of the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, added: “We would echo the call that there needs to be more focus on decommissioning jobs to be brought to the port.
“There are a lot of skilled people in Dundee who could take up these positions.
“It’s definitely time Dundee had a working port, not only for offshore opportunities, but for hauliers and other professional firms in the port side of the city, which would also benefit greatly.”
Mr FitzPatrick said: “I understand that site survey works are currently under way and the entire construction process is expected to take up to 18 months to complete.”