Facilities include a dry dock which will accommodate vessels up to 183m long and up to 19m beam. Slipway 1 will handle 900 tons displacement, 60m long and 14m beam. Slipway 2 takes 200 tons displacement, 35m long and 12m beam. There are also three alongside berths which will accommodate 190m, 130m and 90m, The yard has also done recent work on dredgers and the many short sea cargo vessels which frequent Milford Haven. With preliminary works now underway for the construction of two LNG terminals within the Haven, jack-up rigs working on the jetties are a new source of activity for the yard.

Milford Haven Ship Repairers has also developed a useful sideline building RAF target barges deployed and maintained by David Little Engineering, which carries out contracts with the Ministry of Defence. This is another steady source of work, with nine such barges built over the past three years. The yard has also recently built two landing platforms for Devonport Dockyard, where they are used to transfer personnel from frigates to tenders.

The yard keeps a workforce of 25 permanently employed and, with subcontractors, can have up to 90 working on site when a major refit is underway. With ship owners quick to sail for Poland, Spain or elsewhere if rates escalate, there is continuous pressure to keep them low.

However, by way of versatility and resourceful management of labour in an area of skill shortages, Milford Haven Ship Repairers continues to deliver valued services to the area.

MJ Information No: 21131