Cromarty Archive

Nigg Rig Yard - first launch

Nigg Rig Yard - first launch

Date Added: 01 January 2003 Contributor: Alison Dunn Year: 1974 Picture No: 62

The launch of the first jacket built at the Nigg rig yard. A huge construction, it attracted large numbers of visitors to the town, as can be seen from the parked cars shown here.

Albums: Oil Industry, The Sea

14 Comments

This was known as 'Highland 1' and was destined for BP's Forties field. Comment left on 04 February 2003 by Garve Scott-Lodge
I think the blue car in the foreground belonged to Tommy and Sandra Macdonald, residents of Crom. Comment left on 13 August 2006 at 19:19 by Shep
That is actually "Highland II" launched in 1974 for BP Forties Delta. I can tell because of the large buoyancy spheres on the upper legs. Highland I did not have any. Comment left on 26 August 2006 at 16:11 by Ken Gordon
Ken Gordon ..Sorry you are mistaken about the bouyancy spheres..Both platforms were fitted with them...the main differences were that Highland 1 was actually longer than Highland 2...the bouyancy structures had to be altered after the launch of Highland 1.. Comment left on 30 August 2006 at 19:06 by Anon
Definitely "Highland 1" (BP Forties Charlie) if it was 1974 ... I worked at Nigg from 1973 ... both "FC" and "FD" had buoyancy spheres ... Comment left on 16 December 2008 at 20:35 by J. Derek Riddell
To Mr Ken Gordon, sorry to tell you the other fella's are right this is "Highland 1" as I worked on Highland 2 and that was not floated until 1975 Comment left on 28 April 2009 at 11:05 by John Jones
Yep its deffinitely the Highland 1, My father was a welder on the construction of it and I was there for the launch withe the rest of the family, an amazing sight for a young lad, those flotation ball's were huge, I remember the BP shield painted on the side of them, the food that was layed on for the launch is another thing that sticks in my mind, I've never seen the likes since. Comment left on 23 November 2010 at 16:21 by John Macleod (Formerly Brora)
Definitely Highland 1. I worked on it from cut prepare and assembly of components. What an experience. Comment left on 31 July 2011 at 19:13 by Tommy Macallister
At the end of the day everyone done a brill job building it. i remember sitting on nigg hill watching her go out with my dad and family. He looked chuffed to bits knowing, like so many, that they helped build it. Comment left on 01 August 2011 at 22:58 by Helen Mcdonald
I have commented already on another page. If you go to a the scotlandonscreen.org.uk site and type 'Highlands Fabricators' into the search box you find two videos about Highland Two. Enjoy. Comment left on 02 August 2011 at 10:14 by John Jones
the flotation tanks were used on highland 1@2 Comment left on 15 June 2013 at 02:55 by Robert Williams
I was on site at Nigg during construction of highland one and highland 2 also the scrapping of floatation tanks at Dalmore pier with Thomas Ward Ltd some time later.
I also fitted a microphone on Highland 1 to ick up sound from Queen Liz wen she launched
Comment left on 22 January 2014 at 12:11 by Guess Who??????
I was a police officer at Fearn in these days. However I was at the Muir when Highland 1 was launched. It was then tipped into position in the sea from the barge some days after the actual launch. I am trying to trace a photograph of that iconic moment. can anybody help? Comment left on 12 May 2017 at 01:22 by Ian Mcneish
Dear Mr. Mcneish, my dad worked on Highland 1 & 2 for B.P.
I think I have a photo of H 1 going vertical. I will post it when I return to Scotland in a couple of weeks.
Comment left on 17 June 2018 at 15:13 by Alan Linning
Form Goes Here