THE boss of a marine firm says it will continue expanding a North-East base as it prepares to begin dismantling a massive offshore platform.

Able UK is disposing of the Shell-operated Brent Delta topside at its Seaton Port, near Hartlepool.

The structure, which weighs more than 24,000 tonnes and was one of the first to be built in the very early days of Britain’s oil and gas industry, drew large crowds yesterday after being brought to the region from the North Sea by the equally huge £2.5bn Pioneering Spirit vessel.

It will be dismantled at Seaton Port at the mouth of the River Tees and be the first of four structures the firm will recycle under a lucrative contract.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Peter Stephenson, executive chairman, confidently predicted it will be the start of many decommissioning projects carried out by the business.

“In six weeks’ time, there will be a rig getting refurbished where we are stood now, and that will be a £5m job,” he said.

“We are going to build another 300 metres worth of quay in the next two years and going to continue to redevelop it.

“We have got quite a lot of other decommissioning contracts out there – we hope to bring in a couple of other rigs this year.

“We have got a good order book at the moment and everyone is keeping very busy.”

The site underwent a £28m development in readiness of the structure’s arrival, and Mr Stephenson said the moment had been “20 or 30 years in the making”.

He added: “It is very exciting and it is very important for us; we are very pleased to be successful with this.

“It seems a long time ago now since we got the contract - it was Christmas 2012.

“You see the size of it, it has proven to be one big beast.”

In 2014, the Echo reported how Able was looking to create around 200 jobs with work to dispose of North Sea offshore platforms.

Mr Stephenson confirmed some of those roles would be taken on “in the coming months” as the firm begins further work on the rigs and expanding its quay.

He said: “It has been four-and-a-half years since we got the order, and in that time we have improved the facility, with the main thing being the building of this great quay.

“Everything comes to the end of its life, this is a new method of bringing the rigs in, which we are all looking forward to.

“It is very safe and it saves a lot of people travelling offshore; that is the whole principle behind it.”

Mr Stephenson added it is “without doubt” that the new quay will provide an opportunity to bring in future contracts.

He added: “Myself and the workforce are incredibly proud.”