A 25,000-TONNE oil rig platform has arrived in Teesside for decommissioning on one of the largest vessels ever built.

The Brent Bravo, which stands 410 ft tall and 230 ft wide, is the second platform from the Shell Brent field to be decommissioned and recycled at Able UK's Seaton Port. The first, Brent Delta, arrived in May 2017.

Both were transported from north-east of Shetland by the Allseas Pioneering Spirit, one of the largest vessels ever built.

After arriving off the North East coast, the Brent Bravo was transferred to a 200-metre long barge, the Iron Lady, for the final part of the journey to Able Seaton Port where it is currently moored on Quay 6.

Next week the final manoeuvre will see the platform ‘skidded’ on to the multi-million-pound demolition pad which forms part of what is probably the strongest quay in Europe.

Peter Stephenson, founder and executive chairman of Able UK, said: "Once again we have demonstrated that we are a world leader in the marine decommissioning industry which is set to grow rapidly in the years ahead.

He said the operation involved one of the heaviest lifts ever undertaken and the Bravo would provide a 'spectacular' addition to the Teesside skyline.

Able invested £28million in constructing a new facility, including one of the strongest quays in Europe, to meet the requirements for handling the Brent platforms—and putting the company at the forefront of the growing demand for decommissioning platforms as they come to the end of their operational lives.