Cromarty Archive

Hutton TLP Hull

Hutton TLP Hull

Date Added: 23 June 2009 Contributor: Garry Mackay Year: 2009 Picture No: 2410

Hutton TLP which was built in Nigg yard in the early 80s and is currently anchored in the Firth. Man on pontoon gives good impression of size

Picture taken on the 24th April 2009

Albums: Oil Industry

16 Comments

I was staying near Nigg last weekend and took a photo of the Hutton TPL Hull from the bank. I worked on the TLP project for 5 years from when it was a drawing on a single piece of paper to its completion so it was very sad to see this rusting hulk. Comment left on 24 June 2009 at 13:47 by Hugh Frayne
Love this photo - very dramatic. Comment left on 24 June 2009 at 23:03 by Georgia Macleod
Great picture. Saw it close up when on the Ecoventures boat with Sarah Pern. Sarah advised it was being towed somewhere but it broke its tow? So has been sitting here for sometime....can't recall where Sarah said it was due to end up, perhaps middle east?
Comment left on 05 July 2009 at 20:36 by Jane M Scott
With all respect to those people that spent so much time in constructing it ..and sadly not Getting a chance to complete it....it must be a bit of an eye sore .. as the visiting Cruise Ships in the next few months pass it? I hope for it's sake it does find a Home? ..or better still a Platform to fit on top of it ?
Comment left on 11 July 2009 at 08:22 by John Macdonald
FYI, the Hutton TLP was completed, pumped many a barrel, was decommisioned due to end of field life and the top half of it is seeing action somewhere in Russia. I'm sure it will find another life somewhere, eventually. Comment left on 22 October 2009 at 17:31 by Mariner 2
Excellent to hear that the 'total' construction to which this element was part has other elements recycled and they still work elsewhere. Mariner 2 - can you find out where this beastie was due to finally reside? Sarah of Ecoventures was sure it was 'heading somewhere'........so fingers crossed it has a future function too. Comment left on 22 October 2009 at 22:51 by Anon
It was still there on the 22nd March 2010. Apparently it was on it's way to the Gulf of Mexico in November 2008, broke its tow and has been in the 'firth' ever since. No sign of it going anywhere now. Comment left on 19 May 2010 at 09:05 by Steven Murray
just recently i worked on the tlp dec 2010, installing ladders and platforms from sea level to deck on one leg so the owners could access the hull,im an absail welder and installed everything with winches and ropes.
The paint on this thing is unbelievable four maybe five mm thick, painters did a good job i was cursing them as it was allot of grinding.
Must have future its too good to scrap
Comment left on 05 January 2011 at 02:09 by Anonymous
i was one of the painters who sprayed the inside of the legs with if i remember right a very thick fibreglass coating where the cables went through to anchor the platform, good memories of time at nigg. Comment left on 16 February 2011 at 17:14 by Edward Mcathey
Stayed a weekend in Cromarty and was blessed with view from the hotel window. I was in topside design 30 yrs back and couldn't believe this was 'the' TLP. Comment left on 05 March 2012 at 18:36 by Anonymous
These legs had so many repairs I'm surprised they don't use it for a cheese grater. I worked at Motherwell Bridge, Leith, and was transferred to Nigg after the legs which were built at Leith were floated up to H.F. They did not fit together properly. Comment left on 27 April 2012 at 12:03 by Bob Watt
As this platform seems a permanent fixture, maybe we should site 2 or 3 large wind turbines on it and benefit from some green energy? Comment left on 08 April 2013 at 11:25 by Colin Dunn
Colin with the rejection of the wind turbines at Davidston I wouldn't hold out much hope for 2 or 3 in the Firth. Comment left on 10 April 2013 at 20:05 by Flora Thomson
I thought the main objection had been that residents had considered the proposed turbines to be sited too close to houses. Surely that wouldn't apply to this redundant platform? It's at least 1.5km from the nearest house.

I know that some regard turbines as ugly (not me, I think they're beautiful), but surely not so ugly as the rusting platform?
Comment left on 11 April 2013 at 11:21 by Colin Dunn
Yes I think you're right on the objections. No-one in Cromarty objected to the two that are across 2 fields from me (not to my knowledge anyway). I too think they are lovely with no noise that I can hear. You could say they are a silent beauty in the countryside. Granted the 2 close to me are not as big as the ones proposed for Davidston but still can't understand people who are against them. Comment left on 11 April 2013 at 12:22 by Flora Thomson
Please,Please,no ideas about hideous wind turbines gee's us a break!already our beautiful country side is obliterated with these stupid machines.bring back the hydro dams.they tunnel through mountains & leave our beauty alone.J.Reddigan 1/6/2013/. Comment left on 01 June 2013 at 18:01 by JOHN REDDIGAN
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