First Mooring System Discharge Completed at Aberdeen South Harbour

John Lawrie Metals has completed six mooring system discharges at Aberdeen South Harbour, handling approximately 5,500 tonnes of chain, wire and associated components returned from the decommissioning of the Ithaca Energy Stella and Alba fields.

The project represents the first mooring system discharge completed at Aberdeen South Harbour and involved John Lawrie Metals managing the quayside operation, from vessel arrival and discharge through to material processing and recycling.

Managing a Complex Quayside Operation

Across six vessel calls between July and August 2026, JLM managed the discharge of:

13,896m of mooring chain
10,740m of mooring wire
Approximately 200 tonnes of ancillary components

The John Lawrie Metals operations team worked alongside InterMoor and the wider project team to plan and deliver each discharge. This included the preparation of RAMS and waste management documentation, quayside planning and coordination with vessel and project teams.

A temporary plated discharge area was also constructed by John Lawrie Metals at South Harbour, providing a dedicated area for the safe handling of the materials while protecting the quayside surface.

Each discharge was completed ahead of the planned vessel schedules, allowing the vessel to return offshore sooner than anticipated.

A First for Aberdeen South Harbour

The project marks an important step in the development of John Lawrie Metals’ activities at Aberdeen South Harbour and demonstrates the capability of the facility to handle large-scale offshore decommissioning and recycling operations.

Roddy James, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Aberdeen, said:

“This successful project demonstrates once again why South Harbour is ideally suited for decommissioning activity. Its deepwater berths, extensive laydown space and dedicated waste management licence enable offshore infrastructure to be safely landed and handled at scale. We are delighted to support this important milestone for JLM and look forward to building on it through future projects.”

From Mooring System to Recycled Material

Following discharge, the materials were processed for their next use.

The recovered chain was processed to meet smelter specifications, with almost half already exported for recycling.

The recovered mooring wire has been repurposed within the aquaculture industry, providing another route for the material rather than sending it directly for disposal.

InterMoor played a key role in supporting the discharge operations throughout the project.

Frank Burns, General Manager, InterMoor, said:
“We are proud to have supported JLM in the successful discharge of chain and wire from the Ithaca Stella and Alba project. Delivered in close collaboration with both JLM and the Port of Aberdeen, the operation, together with the ongoing wire spooling campaign, showcases our expertise, teamwork and operational capability, all vital components in executing complex marine logistics operations safely and efficiently”

From the JLM Operations Team

The project was delivered through close coordination across the quayside, project and operations teams.

Dave Weston CEO of John Lawrie Metals said “Excellent collaboration with the client and recovery contractor led to a timely and efficient discharge on each port call. The teamwork between everyone involved was key to making sure the operations ran safely and to schedule.

As always, the facilities and support from the team at Port of Aberdeen were excellent and cement our continued long-term relationship. It’s been a great project for everyone involved and an important milestone for JLM as we continue to grow our presence at South Harbour.

InterMoor, our long term moorings handling partner of choice, have once again demonstrated their flexibility and expertise, working closely alongside our own operations team to delivery this project as safely and efficiently as possible.

As more and more moored assets are removed from the UKCS, working alongside our chosen partners, we are able to offer a complete package from the quayside discharge management through to reuse where possible, and on to final recycling.”

Building Capability at South Harbour

The successful completion of the project adds another significant operation to John Lawrie Metals’ growing activity at Aberdeen South Harbour.

With the capability to manage complex quayside operations alongside material processing and recycling, John Lawrie Metals is continuing to build its role in supporting offshore decommissioning projects and the wider energy sector.

Another major project completed by the JLM team.