The Underwater Centre, located in the Scottish Highlands, has completed restructuring after receiving industry support to secure its future.
The company will now operate as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, which will be funded and supported by its members, comprising operators, service companies and industry.
Industry and public bodies including Oil & Gas UK, Subsea 7, TechnipFMC, Premier Oil and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have collaborated to support The Underwater Centre and ensure its future.
Senior representatives of Subsea 7, TechnipFMC and Premier Oil will join the board of The Underwater Centre.
David McGhie , managing director of The Underwater Centre, said “The centre is of crucial importance to the North Sea industry as one of only two centres in Europe which provides closed bell diver training – a skill set which is vital to the North Sea sector.
“We are delighted that the industry and Scottish Government have collaborated to ensure the future of the centre. This genuinely positive collaboration will help to increase the value we can offer our customers and the entire industry in the future.
“As a not-for-profit company, any surplus will be reinvested in improving quality and maintaining high standards and in new equipment and technology to support testing and trials, keeping us at the forefront globally.”
The Underwater Centre is a purpose-built subsea training and trials facility based on the shore of Loch Linnhe. The Centre provides year-round training and testing in an open-water environment.