Member Article

Mainstay sees off international competition to land new vessel contrac

A designer, builder and maintainer of workboats and renewable marine energy devices has won a significant contract to construct a crew transfer vessel.

Mainstay Marine Solutions, which won against international competition, will build the boat at its deep-water facility in Pembroke Dock for client Targe Towing, a Scottish-based tug owner and operator.

The 15m vessel, designed by Carmarc Design, will have a maximum speed of 15 knots and capacity for two crew and 12 passengers. The boat will operate alongside oil terminal platforms on the east coast of Scotland in swell conditions of up to 2 metres in wave height.

Extensive sea trials will take place close to Pembroke Dock, with delivery scheduled for spring 2017.

The contract success is the latest win for Mainstay, which now employs 80, with 10 per cent of the direct workforce consisting of apprentices. It recently won a contract to build a new energy device for a £5.8m renewables scheme in South Wales.

The firm’s turnover has increased by a third, from just under £4m to more than £5m, during the last twelve months.

Mainstay’s managing director, Stewart Graves, said: “We are very well known for our high-quality transfer vessels, and we’re looking forward to working with Targe Towing.

“Our team of skilled workers, many of whom are based locally, help to position us as the best in what we do. It’s their positive attitude, approach to work and amazing talent that has helped us grow.

“This contract win is a fantastic way to end 2016 and I’m confident we will have another successful 12 months next year.”

The hull of the vessel will be made from steel, and the super-structure constructed of aluminium.

Targe Towing provides dedicated towage for north east Scotland ports including BP’s Hound Point Marine terminal on the Firth of Forth.

Tom Woolley, managing director at Targe Towing, said: “After being awarded an extension to our contract with BP, we went to the market for a new crew vessel.

“We looked at facilities in Turkey and Holland but Mainstay’s base in Pembroke Dock were outstanding.

“Mainstay was also able to demonstrate the quality of its work, and its rigorous attitude to health and safety. We were also impressed with the vessel it built for the Port of Milford Haven.

“For me personally, it’s brilliant to order this vessel from South Wales because I spent time in the 1980s as general manager at the Milford Dock Company, and felt I had unfinished business there.”

For further information on Mainstay Marine Solutions, visit: www.mainstaymarine.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .