A SHIP scrappage outfit which has failed to bring a single vessel to Greenock for decommissioning nearly a year after promising 100 'skilled jobs' now fears its operation could be sunk.

Atlas Decommissioning — which is seeking to turn Inchgreen Dry Dock into a marine scrapyard — says it is seeking 'critical support' from legislators and industry regulators.

The company wants to steer its business plan focus away from breaking up container ships and is turning its attention to oil and gas industry vessels.

Atlas's blueprint to bring end-of-life container ships to the dry dock lies in tatters following a massive surge in ship-based freight transport as a result of the recovery from the Covid pandemic.

Now the company is calling for UK continental shelf decommissioning projects to remain in Britain instead of going overseas - and it wants work to come directly to Inchgreen.

Atlas managing director Michael Dixon said: "It is critical that the entire UK decommissioning supply chain is afforded the support to be able to continue its offering for the future, and that support must be actioned now or the supply chain will simply cease to exist.

"Legislators, regulators and operators have a huge part to play in shaping how that looks and we intend on being at the forefront of those conversations."

The Telegraph told in March how Atlas — which leases Inchgreen from Peel Ports — was forced to lay off its start-up workforce after failing to bring any ships to Greenock for scrapping.

Atlas bosses claimed at a stormy public meeting at Greenock's Tontine Hotel last year that they would have a 24,000-ton ship at Inchgreen before Christmas.

We subsequently revealed how the company had tried and failed to being three ships to Inchgreen — the Maersk Idaho, Nysted Maersk and Lucie Schult.

Atlas Decommissioning — which was set up in August last year — describes itself as 'a leading marine, infrastructure and vessel decommissioning organisation'.

The company wants to bring a vessel previously operated by BP, and which is currently docked at Hunterston, to Inchgreen.

It says it would be more cost effective and environmentally friendly to have the Foinaven floating production, storage and offloading ship (FPSO) come to the dry dock instead of going abroad to be broken up.

Atlas said: "Previous comments by BP in studies undertaken for the oil and gas industry confirmed that a dry dock is almost essential if the project is breaking down an FPSO, in particular the hull.

"Prior to Atlas Decom's incorporation, no such dry dock option existed for decommissioning projects in Scotland for vessels of this type.

"This was a driver in the creation of Atlas Decom and its appointment of prominent experts from across the decommissioning, demolition and oil and gas industries."

Managing director Mr Dixon added: "The relocation of the Foinaven FPSO and other projects to Inchgreen opens a wealth of possibilities for the Scottish decommissioning industry, driving new opportunities for Strathclyde and the wider Scottish community.

"This is a real chance to put the Inchgreen Dry Dock, credited as gold standard by Greenpeace, on the international decommissioning stage and establish the Scottish facility as a safe and sustainable location of choice for UK based projects and vessels."

Atlas says that if the ship came to Greenock then 60 'well-paid long term site positions' would be created, with 'a further 30 positions following shortly thereafter'.