With a growing demand for aluminium RIBs and a close working relationship with panel cutters and shapers Jordans, Mustang is able to build a completed RIB in about a month.

Underway in Mustang’s new covered building shed when visited by Maritime Journal last month was the steel hull of Skomer, a new 19m pilot boat for Milford Haven Port Authority. The aluminium wheelhouse, going together in a separate shed, will be fitted to the deck with rubber mounts. The parallel building will shorten building time, with the boat due to be finished by the end of this year.

Also underway last month were completion works on a 13m aluminium RIB workboat for David Little Engineering. The broad decked craft will be deployed to tow and retrieve target barges at RAF bombing ranges off the Pembrokeshire coast. This vessel was started and nearly completed by nearby Ali-It Marine Ltd before it went into receivership. Completion works include modification of the engine beds, a realignment of the drives and relocation of the exhausts.

Mustang has an 80% interest in Ocean Dynamics RIBs and was starting work last month on a Ribworker aluminium RIB for Hosmagun University of Iran. This ambulance taxi will provide medical services to offshore islands in the Gulf of Hormuz and follows closely upon the completion of a patrol boat for the same region.

The expansion of facilities has also led to a significant expansion of repair and conversion work at the yard. At the time of MJ’s visit, a Williams Marine & Port Services barge was in the partially covered 750 ton slipway for repair and a respray whilst a Svitzer Marine fire fighting boat awaiting repair and repainting in the 80 ton slipway.

MJ Information No: 21119