ASCO Peterhead 40 Years' Service

25Sunday, November 30, 2014 www.buchanobserver.co.uk Buchan OBserver

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS’ SERVICE IN PETERHEAD

tuesday, december 2, 2014

26 www.buchanobserver.co.uk Sunday, November 30, 2014Buchan OBserver

40th AnniversAry

Company growing in every direction

Evolution of South Base is cross-section of history of offshore industry

By cutting through a tree trunk, scientists are able to read the pattern of rings inside and under-

stand the history of the tree and the environment around it.As ASCO’s Peterhead South Base celebrates its 40th an-niversary, the history of the facility proves to be just that - a cross section the the entire offshore industry.

In 1967, ASCO started life at the commencement of exploration for oil in the North Sea as Aberdeen Service Company (North Sea) Limited.

Seven years later and ASCO’s flagship supply base in Peterhead was for-mally opened by William Ross, the then Secretary of State for Scotland.

It represented a massive step forward for the com-pany, the town of Peterhead and the North Sea oil and gas industry.

At first, as energy firms began to colonise the North Sea, ASCO and its pred-ecessor companies were focused on platform con-struction.

T h e n th e c o m pa ny evolved to meet the grow-ing operational needs of North Sea operators and grew into the offshore sup-ply provider ASCO is today.

Christine Penney, AS-CO’s head of wells and ma-rine ops, believes the firm has expanded ‘in every di-rection.’

“The base was built on reclaimed ground - There was nothing here before but a bit of the bay and the ASCO base came from there.

“In the early days of the offshore industry, locations were just getting started and platfoms were being built so that was our busi-ness.”

She stressed the opera-tion differences between the North Base, which han-dles larger construction vessels, and the South Base which handles ASCO’s day-to-day supply business.

“Through the years the oil industry has evolved and we are now supporting that industry.

“ We ’ v e p e a k e d a t 600,000 deck tonnes here in the South Base.

“From what this compa-ny was in the Sidlaw days, we’ve grown in every direc-tion.”

by joshua king

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*40th AnniversAry

ASCO: The beating heart of Peterhead

The base has grown to be one of the finest multi-purpose bases in the world

had the base up and running within 36 hours.

“The pride they show in their work and in their base is absolutely fantastic.”

These thoughts were ech-oed by ASCO’s Group Head of Communications, David Wallace.

He said: “I was on the base and I went to see a crane driv-er. This guy was polishing his new crane.

“I was in the cab and it was like something out of star wars with all the kit in there. And he spoke about that crane like it was his new car.”

The pride the people of Peterhead have in what they fondly call ‘their base’ has never been in doubt.

But as the base celebrates its 40th anniversary, the message that has come loud and clear from Derek Smith and ASCO’s senior manage-ment team is that the com-pany is equally proud of Peterhead.

Derek Smith has praised the people of Peterhead who have made the base what it is.

Mr Smith said: “Our base in Peterhead is our home and we hold it in high regard.

“It has been said to me by more than one of our opera-tors that Peterhead is one of the largest and finest mul-ti-purpose offshore supply facilities in the world and that’s because we’ve invest-ed a lot in the Peterhead op-eration.”

Not only does the south base cater for ASCO’s clients on a daily basis, the facility also acts as a model for sup-ply bases around the world and as a training ground for ASCO staff and the young people of Peterhead.

Mr Smith, who was the group chief operating of-ficer before he was appoint-ed CEO last year, is acutely aware of Peterhead’s wider significance to the company.

He continued: “We’ve con-

stantly got operators coming to Peterhead port to see how we operate - recently we had Petrobras and Pemex over.

“The industry holds Pe-terhead in high regard. It is one of the true multi-pur-pose bases in the world. We can take one vessel and offer it every available service.

“We invited a delegation from the Northern Territo-ry Government over when we were bidding to develop and operate a Marine Supply Base within the existing Dar-win East Arm Port.

“We fought hard to get that business and it was be-cause of what they saw here in Peterhead that we won it.”

Mr Smith explained that ASCO is constantly working to stay ahead of technologi-cal and industry develop-ments.

Last year the firm in-vested more than £2.6m on two Sennebogen 6130 HMC cranes for the Peterhead

base, maneuverable ma-chines tailor-made to cope with the high winds unique to the base.

L o o k i n g fo r wa rd M r Smith and his team are in-vesting in a whole raft of up-grades for the site including reorganising the layout of the existing sheds and in-stalling bespoke, state-of-the-art traffic and cargo management systems.

But the extraordinary success of the base is the result of more than just tar-geted investment and state-of-the-art machinery. It is a product of the passion and pride of the people of Peter-head.

Mr Smith said: “I’m al-ways so impressed by the passion of people in Peter-head.

“If you think back to the terrible storm which bat-tered the town and the base in 2012, our staff were back to work 24 hours later and

On July 12, 1974 then Secre-tary of State for Scotland William Ross officially launched AS-CO’s flagship

supply base in Peterhead.Now, 40 years on, the base has grown to be one of the finest multi-purpose bases in the world and its evolution reflects the ever-changing offshore industry.

ASCO is the global leader in offshore supply base man-agement. It runs more bases in more locations for more customers than anyone else.

And still Peterhead’s base remains as the beating heart of ASCO’s international op-erations.

As the base celebrates its 40th anniversary, ASCO CEO

BY JOSHUA KING “Our base in Peterhead is our home and we hold it in high regard”

ASCO CEO Derek Smith has praised the people of Peterhead.


As well as hav-ing a healthy work ethic, staff at ASCO in Peter-head enjoy an extremely vibrant social

life via a host of get-togeth-ers.

Here are just a few pho-tographs from events held throughout the base’s 40-year history.

Do you recognise any fa-miliar faces, or remember these fantastic nights out?

BY JOSHUA KING

ASCO in Peterhead enjoy an extremely vibrant social life

More party fun for Asco staff. But can you remember the year?

Enjoying some festive fun at the Asco kids Christmas party.

All dressed up. Do you remember this special occasion?

More Christmas party fun, but can you remember where it was taken?

Looking back at social events over the years

40th AnniversAry




Who were the Asco staff who took part in the Scottish Week parade?

Another presentation of a lovely ornament. But were you the lucky recipient?

Girls night out at Asco. Were you one of these lovely ladies?




Who were the Asco staff who took part in the Scottish Week parade?

Another presentation of a lovely ornament. But were you the lucky recipient?

Girls night out at Asco. Were you one of these lovely ladies?


40th AnniversAry

The Peterhead Port Authority and ASCO have enjoyed a long fruitful and positive

relationship throughout their 40-year history at the port.

From their early ‘pioneer-ing’ beginnings to the major worldwide presence they now enjoy, service and safety has been their mantra.

They share several respon-sibilities in terms of anti-pol-lution control, port security and compliance with the port marine safety code to ensure the integrity of the marine and physical environment is not compromised for the benefit

of their mutual stakeholders. Close cooperation is also

evident in the sharing of as-sets, participation on port user groups, subsea and re-newable projects and in the initial setting up of Peterhead Decommissioning Ltd.

The PPA ASCO relation-ship has been one of steady growth, built on sound busi-ness principles and brought many benefits to both the re-spective organisations but equally as important, the town in terms of jobs and eco-nomic benefit.

Indeed, according to a recent report by BIGGAR

Economics, the combined activity of PPA and ASCO support 9,400 jobs and £0.8 Billion Gross Value Add to the Scottish economy per annum.

These figures can only be achieved through hard work, diligence and ingenuity.

ASCO was one of the pio-neers in the early develop-ment of logistical support for the U.K’s North Sea Oil and Gas Industry.

It deserves the plaudits, congratulations and the port’s best wishes for the next 40 years, which by all accounts will be equally as challenging and hopefully as rewarding.

A fruitful and positive relationship

Peterhead Port Authority chief executive John Wallace (above), says the PPA ASCO relationship has been one of steady growth.

A second load list with 80 percent of what is needed ar-rives 24 hours before a sailing and it is at that point equip-ment and cargo can be laid out on the quayside.

Current ASCO clients in-clude Subsea 7, Apache, ADTI, Nexen, EnQuest, Marathon, Talisman, Synergy and Dana.

Although currently the majority of their custom-ers’ inventory is held on the South Base, ASCO is consider-ing moving storage of equip-ment to a separate facility to free up more lay down space on the water side.

Mr Clark continued: “The vessels are discharged then

organised for areas and then transported.”

Combined with planned developments in computer-ised load management and co-ordination software, Mr Clark believes ASCO’s loyal customers can expect their vessels to be turned around quicker than ever before.

He said: “The ASCO South Base has a number of ten-ants who provide drilling products. All industry drill-ing equipment, fuel and water can be provided on the base.

“With future develop-ments, our existing clients would see vessels turned around quicker.”

said: “We’re committed to our customer base here in Peter-head and this year we’re look-ing at half a million tonnes of cargo and equipment going through this facility.

“We’re providing logis-tical support to offshore production and drilling op-erations.

“We plan the amount of cargo required, the time to ship and prioritise its use and we do all of this 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”

Two days before a sailing Mr Clark and his team re-ceived a load list of the equip-ment and cargo required.

ASCO’s loyal customers can expect their vessels to be turned around quicker than ever before.ASCO’s loyal customers can expect their vessels to be turned around quicker than ever before.ASCO’s loyal customers can expect their vessels to be turned around quicker than ever before.ASCO’s loyal customers can expect their vessels to be turned around quicker than ever before.

With the off-shore indus-try con-tinu-ing to

boom, suppliers like ASCO must continue to operate at peak performance every single day.Peterhead director Les Clark explains that the logistical support provided by ASCO to their clients demands invon-vation, investment and dedi-cation.

Speaking on the compa-ny’s 40th anniversary in the north-east port, Mr Clark

Logistical support provided by ASCO to their clients demands innovation

A 365-days-a-year operation


40th AnniversAry

Roger Brimmer at Apache’s headquarters at Kingswells.

ASCO is an ‘integral part’ of Apache’s work

Exploring Apache’s working relationship with ASCO

to the right locations in a safe, efficient and cost effective manner.”

ASCO also provides freight forwarding and waste man-agement services for Apache through ASCO Freight Man-agement and Enviroco respec-tively.

Apache moved its logistics operation from Aberdeen to Peterhead in 2007 and in terms of their future strate-gy; Roger says he “sees Apache staying in Peterhead.”

The Supply Chain Manag-er has been with Apache since 2006 and previously worked for ASCO as Base Manager at Peterhead between 1995 and 1998 before moving to the USA as ASCO’s Vice Pres-ident of Logistics.

He has also worked with PSL Energy Services (now Halliburton) and Amoco and has been involved with AS-CO one way or another for 30 years.

Roger now lives in Bancho-

ry but has lived and worked in the US, Far East, Middle East and London as well as Aber-deen and Peterhead.

He studied at Cults Acad-emy before progressing to Robert Gordon University, and has worked in the Oil and Gas industry since 1983.

Commenting, Roger said: “We see ASCO in Peterhead as an integral part of our future supply chain.

“ASCO brings many tal-ented and knowledgeable people who are hardworking and diligent and who do their very best for Apache on a daily basis. They also have a strong management team headed by Derek Smith.”

He added: “We look for-ward to continuing our rela-tionship in 2015, when we’re going to be opening a new warehouse in Dyce, and AS-CO are going to own and oper-ate it as part of a 10-year deal for managed warehouse serv-ices.”

As ASCO cele-brates its 40th anniversary, the Buchan Observer vis-ited Apache to explore the working re-

lationship between the two organisations.The Buchanie recently met with Roger Brimmer, who is Supply Chain Manager with Apache North Sea Ltd, at the firm’s headquarters at King-swells.

US Oil Company, Apache bought the Forties Oil Field from BP in 2003 and rather than abandoning it, decided to invest in it - spending more than $5 billion on drilling, completions, and to upgrade the top side facilities.

A little over ten years lat-er, Apache now envisages an-other 20 years of production in the oil field.

As Roger Brimmer ex-plained to the Buchanie, AS-CO has played a key role in Apache’s supply chain for a number of years.

Apache has seven offshore platforms, which need to be resupplied, and it is ASCO which manages its Shore-base logistics i.e. loads and unloads ships with deck car-go, fuel, water, mud and ce-ment.

Apache ships c.180,000 tonnes p.a. of deck cargo from Peterhead and is responsible for managing the collections and deliveries on six ships. ASCO and Apache have been working together since 2003.

Speaking to the Buchan Observer about the reasons behind the success of their 11-year working relationship, Roger said Apache likes the people and services it gets from ASCO.

Roger describes ASCO as “effectively an extension of our supply chain team” and the relationship between the two companies as one of openness, honesty, trust and mutual respect.

In short, Apache has to trust ASCO to “deliver the right things on the right boats

by graham smith

*

“ASCO brings many talented and knowledgeable people who are hardworking and diligent and who do their

very best for Apache on a daily basis. “


Neil Massie, who recently retired after 40 years’ service.

The introduction of mobile phones and the sheer size of vessels using the base are among the notable changes to the day to day working environ-ment at Peterhead over its 40 year history.

So says Neil Massie, ASCO’s longest serving employee up until his recent retirement af-ter 40 years’ service.

Neil, who was Operations Manager with Fuel & Lubri-cants at Peterhead, recalled: “I was one of the first staff mem-bers here.

“There were only half a doz-en of us at the time and I was involved in the finance opera-tions, mostly doing invoicing, but the place was always a hive

of activity with crew members constantly coming in and out of the office to use the phone.

“Mobile phones changed that and the crews disappeared from the offices virtually over-night once mobiles came on the go.

As for the vessels them-selves, Neil recalls: “In earlier days, it wasn’t uncommon to see 14 or 15 vessels double-berthed alongside the quay, whereas now the boats are double the size and there will only be five or a maximum of six vessels in at any one time.”

Having served his time as a boat builder with Richard Irvin in Peterhead, Neil worked for eight years with the company,

before deciding on a change of direction and, after complet-ing a one-year business course at the Commercial College in Aberdeen, he came to work at ASCO South Base in Peterhead.

His career subsequently took him via credit control and operation administration to Fuel & Lubes in 1990, where he remained for 24 years.

As he reminisced, two as-pects which he delighted in saying hadn’t changed were the camaraderie and also AS-CO’s longevity.

“Fuel & Lubes at Peterhead is very close-knit and many of the same faces are still there af-ter many years. It’s a team that works well together,” he says.

“And I have no doubt ASCO will be around for at least an-other 40 years.

“It’s not just the experience and expertise within the com-pany, but those factors com-bined with its advantageous location, mean that Peterhead is ideally situated to serve the oil and gas industry for many years to come.”

Before departing for the fi-nal time, the day after his 65th birthday, Neil summed up his time at Peterhead, saying: “I’ve enjoyed working at ASCO over the years.

“The company has been very good to me – and hopeful-ly I’ve paid them back in some way.”

Neil bows out after 40 years’ service

Peterhead site is in strong position to attract new business, says General Manager

ASCO’s general manager Mike Ramsay reviews the base’s busiest year.

Whether favour-ing ‘flag-ship opera-tion’ or ‘centre

of excellence’, the choice of description may be optional, but the sentiment is un-questionable – Peterhead is ASCO’s finest offshore sup-ply base.

Delivering core services in-cluding supply base manage-ment, marine co-ordination, waste disposal, collections and transportation, ware-house and external storage, crane and quayside services, Peterhead is crucial to the off-shore support of North Sea as-sets.

Overseeing operations for the last year has been Mike Ramsay, ASCO’s General Man-ager at Peterhead.

In this article, he looks back at the busiest year in Peterhead’s recent history, as well as outlining what lies ahead.

“I have to acknowledge the skills and expertise that have been to the fore at Peterhead for the last 40 years, and can only admire the efficiency and effectiveness inherent at the base,” he says.

“Peterhead has been a shining light for ASCO over

the last four decades. Its service delivery and over-all performance make it the model we look to mirror glo-bally when developing new locations.

“That, in itself, speaks vol-umes for the abilities of our personnel here.

“As for the present, busi-ness is booming. Activity throughout 2014 has been huge, and it has allowed us to increase staff numbers by more than 50 in the last six months.

“ O v e r t h e s u m m e r months, loading operations have peaked at 2,000 tonnes per day and vessel turn round is up 44% with the base turn-ing round more than 70 ves-sels each week, compared to just over 50 vessels in the same period last year.

“Forecasts show this up-ward trend is set to continue and we are looking to con-tinue increasing capacity through investment in infra-structure early next year.

“In addition to recent in-vestment in quayside mainte-nance works, including £2.6m on two new Sennebogen 6130 HMC cranes, and £1.5m in warehousing, increasing our offering to 500,000sq ft, we have budgeted an additional £600,000 spend on water de-livery and surface repairs and maintenance.

“The boom in warehouse capacity has given us renewed flexibility for existing clients including Apache, Nexen, EnQuest, BP, ADTI, Dana and Subsea7, as well as for poten-tial new clients.

“We’ll also be increasing berth capacity and the oper-ational footprint of the base, which will see the decanting and removal of redundant services and building, again allowing us to improve serv-ice for core supply vessel sup-port.

“One other crucial devel-opment will come early next year, when we introduce our new bespoke electronic logis-

tics management system. “This will streamline the

processes around the plan-ning of voyages, maximise ef-ficiencies around capturing weight data used in billing and provide our customers with a more transparent mecha-nism for directly monitoring their quayside operations.

“Clients will be able to log onto the system and see their cargo in transit and know when their vessels are being loaded and ready for depar-ture.

“Following the introduc-tion of the new technology here in Peterhead, our inten-tion is to see the system rolled out to our European opera-tions and then globally.

“Workload forecasts and levels of investment are com-bining, not only to ensure a very healthy long-term future for the Peterhead base, but al-so to consolidate current cli-ent relationships and put us in a strong position to attract new business,” he adds.

Long-term future is healthy for base

by joshua king

40th AnniversAry

ASCO Peterhead 40 Years' Service

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