[2] The deep water and secluded nature of Loch Striven has made it suitable for a number of different forms of maritime usage, both naval and civilian, over the years.

The upper reaches of the sea loch, because of their secluded location, and their topographical similarity to Norwegian fjords, were used extensively for midget submarine (X-craft) training during World War II.

Operated by the Oil and Pipelines Agency, it receives diesel and aviation fuel by coastal tanker, and provides supplies to Royal Navy and other NATO vessels.

The (then) newly built LNG carriers Gastor and Nestor were laid up here from delivery from the shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique in 1976 until being sold 15 years later to Bonny Gas Transport in 1992.

The building was designed to blend-in with the local architecture and appears to resemble a large house or small church when viewed from a distance[11] Opened in 1951, its single turbine has a generating capacity of 8 megawatts (11,000 hp).