ATR Group, the global equipment specialist, has invested £1 million in new equipment and almost doubled its UES (Underwater Engineering Services) workshop facility to meet a growing demand from the subsea sector.
The expenditure in the Aberdeen-based group’s marine and subsea project support equipment division is in direct response to a rise in demand from major oil operators and supply chain companies for ATR’s services across a range of complex underwater operations.
Construction work to expand the workshop at Foveran, Aberdeenshire, has seen it increase from 400m² to 700m², with a further 1,500m² of yard space to accommodate new equipment, including a high-capacity hydraulic winch.
In addition to new equipment and facilities, UES has recruited eight key staff including design engineers, workshop and project delivery personnel. The group has also invested in additional training for its 400-strong employee base and bolstered its apprenticeship scheme.
UES focuses on marine and subsea project support equipment and project management to the survey, ROV and diving markets. It is one of the group’s newly restructured divisions alongside ATR Lifting Solutions (formerly Cosalt), ATR Power Solutions, ATR Equipment Solutions and ATR Marine Solutions.
ATR Group chief executive Keith Moorhouse said: “As the industry looks to utilise the latest systems to ensure its use of assets and investment are maximised, this new investment in UES’ tooling equipment, working environment and employees is an important step forward both in the growth of the division and our evolution as a group.
“The continued rise in asset integrity management across the industry has put increased pressure on the subsea sector to deliver inspection, repair and maintenance activities. With the same importance expected to be placed on decommissioning work in the next few years, the sector as a whole is gearing up for an extremely busy period of activity.
“To ensure we are best positioned to meet this challenge, we have created a more structured working practice capable of providing turnkey services and invested in recruiting and training our people at both the skilled and apprenticeship levels to support clients’ requirements for specialist technicians.”
ATR has invested £6 million this year in its rental fleet and equipment, double the amount spent in 2012. The group is currently working on a number of innovative subsea equipment projects for clients and has recently completed a batch of bespoke hydraulic power units for ROV applications.
