Currie Brothers go into liquidation

Gordon MacLure, restructuring partner at Johnston Carmichael, was yesterday appointed by Kirkwall Sheriff Court as provisional liquidator of Currie Brothers Limited.

The family business was established in 1987, focusing on marine and civil engineering, which then evolved into also working in the marine renewables sector. The latter accounted for significant turnover in recent years, but over the last 12 months there has been no such work partially because of uncertainties regarding a grid connection.

The company also suffered due to a general downturn of work available in Orkney, and after missing out on a major contract in Shetland and with a lack of upcoming projects in the pipeline, the directors reluctantly took the decision to appoint a liquidator.

Unfortunately as a result, ten employees have been made redundant, although it is understood the majority may have already been offered alternative employment.

Mr MacLure’s said that his investigations into the company’s financial position are at a very early stage but that he would be arranging for a meeting of the company’s creditors and the sale of the company’s assets in due course.