Allseas has awarded Able Group contracts to dismantle, reuse, and recycle two of TAQA UK’s most significant North Sea platforms — Cormorant Alpha and Tern — marking one of the largest decommissioning projects ever undertaken in the region.
Able Group Chief Executive Officer, Lance Taylor, says Allseas’ contract awards for TAQA UK topsides are ‘a defining moment’ for UK decommissioning.
The two topsides, with a combined weight of about 47,500 tonnes, will be transported to Able Seaton Port (ASP) in Teesside from 2027 onward for dismantling and materials recovery. Up to 97% of the recovered materials are expected to be reused or recycled, further establishing ASP as one of Europe’s leading marine decommissioning facilities.
The contracts represent a major milestone for the UK’s late-life asset management and offshore recycling capability. “These awards reflect the trust placed in us by Allseas to deliver on significant projects for TAQA,” said Lance Taylor, CEO of Able Group. “They also reinforce our commitment to expanding infrastructure and supporting long-term employment across Teesside.”
Allseas Vice President Projects Matthijs Groenewegen said the collaboration demonstrates “the strength of our single-lift removal technology and Able’s proven recycling expertise.” TAQA UK Managing Director Sandy Hutchison added that the projects align with the company’s commitment to safe and efficient decommissioning and to supporting the UK’s energy transition goals.
According to the North Sea Transition Authority, the awards underscore the importance of using UK-based dismantling facilities, in line with commitments under the North Sea Transition Deal to strengthen domestic supply chain participation in decommissioning.
Pictured above: TAQA Cormorant Alpha platform in the North Sea.
