A major improvement programme that will deliver ‘the most efficient supply base in the industry’ is well underway with building work expected to be completed by the end of the year.
ASCO, the global specialist in oil and gas materials management, is revitalising its South Base operation in Peterhead through a significant seven-figure investment in infrastructure and the digitalisation of key processes.
Having been situated in Peterhead for over 40 years, the redevelopment plans have been accelerated since the turn of this year in a sign of increasing market confidence.
This includes an internal office refurbishment in conjunction with a full external revamp of the 1970s main building to equip it with new doors, windows, cladding and roofing to create a more modern working environment for its 470 staff in Peterhead.
The most significant physical alterations, however, are being made to improve infrastructure, including implementation of a new traffic management system, concreting an additional 60,000 sq. ft of yard space and relocating a mud and water treatment plant.
A new one-way system will optimise material flow and create a separate entrance at the base; speeding up departure times by easing congestion at the quayside and enhancing safety and security for staff and visitors.
The removal of long-term storage from South Base – including large and ageing items such as anchors and subsea umbilicals – will also help realise segregated inbound and outbound shipping lanes and create a more efficient customer experience.
General manager Mike Ramsay is heading up the project in Peterhead. He commented: “We expect South Base to turnaround 2,700 vessels in 2018 – up several hundred from last year – while the site has also benefited recently from several important contract renewals with operators and large service companies.
“Therefore, the main driver behind the current infrastructure improvements at South Base has been our relentless focus on quality. In particular, the subsequent increases in productivity and efficiencies will allow the team to better service customers from a HSSEQ perspective and increase our capacity to deal with future growth.”
Group operations director, Craig Lennox, is focused on ensuring ASCO maximises the value of all investments globally, and in Peterhead this means exploiting both the changes in the local physical infrastructure and the digitisation of operational processes.
As the business fully transitions from paper-based to digital processes, supported by ASCO’s integrated logistics management system (iLMS), clients will benefit from a reduction in the number of times that materials are handled, and their decisions on prioritising resources will become more informed.
Craig explains: “Effective planning is the primary requirement for efficient logistics as it is essential to be able to locate materials in transit and predict when they will arrive.
“Through increased accuracy and transparency, the investment in our iLMS suite enables customers and staff to make improved decisions and ensures we can deliver optimum service levels across the wider supply chain.
“We look forward to the completion of this blueprint redevelopment in Peterhead as a best in class shore base, forming part of ASCO’s wider ambition to be the leading materials management solution for the global oil and gas industry and beyond.”