NORTH Sea oil was never going to be the gift that kept on giving for ever. But the work of decommissioning rigs and other maritime structures always seemed an added bonus.

There is a world of work still to be won out there in the choppy, grey waters straddled by giant structures coming to the end of their lives. Nearly 500 installations, large and small, are due to be decommissioned in the next two decades. Scotland – perhaps Shetland in particular – is well placed and willing to take the work and, indeed, has anticipated doing so for some time.

But, as Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) chief executive Sandra Laurenson said yesterday, the work has so far been a bit “stop-start”. With that in mind, yesterday’s news that a major piece of decommissioning work was headed Shetland’s way is most welcome.

The Buchan Alpha, a moored production vessel and former drilling rig positioned around 100 miles north-east of Aberdeen, will be taken for decommissioning to the LPA’s Dales Voe and Greenhead bases. The project will last 17 months, creating 35 jobs. Unsurprisingly, local MSP Tavish Scott is delighted at the “tremendous news”, and both he and Ms Laurenson hope the contract is the first of many. Shetland was always a pivotal point during the boom years of production, and the isles remain well-placed to play their part in decommissioning.

French-owned Veolia and partners Peterson will carry out the work from their Lerwick base, and further good news came in their declared target of a recycling rate of 98 per cent. Winning the contract was hard work in itself. Fulfilling it will demonstrate to the industry that Shetland has the skills, know-how and facilities to carry out the difficult business of decommissioning.

But this is good news for Scotland as a whole. Last year’s incident, in which a rig being towed from Norway to Turkey for decommissioning ran aground at Dalmore on Lewis, is not one we wish to see repeated. It is better such work is carried out here.