One of the Beatrice offshore wind farm towers

HIE was criticised before for spending �16m on the site and two firms which have failed to run it successfully.

The current operator Camcal has gone into administration.

HIE chief executive Sandy Cumming said the original investment had been aimed at the renewable sector, but it now wants to widen it to other businesses.

Meanwhile, Green Highlands and Islands MSP Eleanor Scott said she has been alarmed by the collapse of Camcal, which provided two towers for an experimental wind farm in the Beatrice field in the Moray Firth.

It also delivered three main tubular sections for wave machines in Portugal.

'Lucrative industry'

Ms Scott said: "For the company which built the towers for the landmark Beatrice offshore wind project and the tubes for the Pelamis wave energy generator to close is not only a tragedy for the workforce, but an unacceptable setback for this potentially very lucrative industry."

Labour Western Isles MSP Alasdair Morrison said he believes an operator will be found for the Arnish yard.