American company establishes big recycling facility in Frederikshavn
The facility measuring 280.000 square meters will be the world’s first purpose built facility to demolish decommissioned ships and oil rigs in order to recycle the metal. In the new state of the art facility M.A.R.S. will have a strong focus on security, sustainability and the environment.
Having the M.A.R.S. facility located in Frederikshavn is ideal for our entry into Europe. The port provides us with a great infrastructure and we get easy access to some of the heaviest trafficked shipping lanes in the world. Moreover, we have decided to establish our facility in Denmark due to Denmark’s strong focus on sustainable recycling. Throughout the establishment process, we have experienced a very proactive and professional support from local stakeholders and Invest in Denmark. We look forward to our operations beginning later in 2019.
The facility in Frederikshavn will cover the market for recycling of ships and oil platforms from the North Sea region of Europa. M.A.R.S. has already won the contract for demolition and recycling of the two main platforms Tyra East and Tyra West from Mærsk’s Tyra field in the Danish North Sea, which weigh more than 23.000 tons in total. The contract constitutes the biggest demolition and recycling of offshore constructions ever in Denmark.
I am very happy that we have succeeded in attracting an investment of this caliber to Frederikshavn. Denmark has a long tradition for building ships and we have skilled shipyard workers. It holds great perspectives that we now in Frederikshavn will use Danish infrastructure and competencies to recycle up to 200.000 tons of metal annually. That is an example of circular economy that really makes a difference.
M.A.R.S.’ interest in Denmark arose in connection with a conference in Houston back in 2015, where the Port of Frederikshavn and Frederikshavn Business Council introduced the American to the opportunities that the Port of Frederikshavn had to offer. Since then, M.A.R.S. has visited Denmark regularly and been supported by Invest in Denmark, Frederikshavn Business Council and Frederikshavn Municipality during the process of establishment.
Chairman of the Board for the Port of Frederikshavn Bo Uggerhøj says:
”Recycling has been one of our strategic focus areas in relation to the expansion of the port. We look forward to the commencement of M.A.R.S.’ activities in Frederikshavn that will create around 200 jobs and contribute to increased turnover of goods, which will constitute an important source of income for the Port of Frederikshavn. At the same time, we expect that more business opportunities around recycling will arise following M.A.R.S.’ establishment”.
M.A.R.S. will begin recruiting employees for the recycling facility in the near future. It is expected that the facility will open in the second half of 2019 and employ more than 200 people when in full operation.
Related insights
Contact How can we help your company?
If you would like to know more about doing business in Denmark, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our dedicated advisors: