Burgess Marine acquires Meercat Workboats

Meercat, based in Portchester, near Portsmouth in Hampshire, currently builds custom road transportable multi-role workboats up to 18m in length. With plans to expand into both Class-approved vessels and aluminium wind farm support vessels, the company has appointed Jason Coltman as managing director.

Burgess Marine, which is based in Dover, is already building two wind farm support vessels for vessel operator Mainprize Offshore Ltd.

The company will complete these builds and then launch the two new vessels as Meercats.

Subject to berth availability, the intent is to exhibit the first of these two new vessels at Mercator Media’s Seawork International 2015.

Nicholas Warren, Burgess Marine’s managing director, said: “The acquisition of Meercat is very much in line with our plans for longer-term strategic growth: Meercat builds boats, Burgess Marine repairs ships, and Trafalgar Yacht Management manages yachts.

“Our intent is to develop Meercat by gradually expanding the company’s product range and facilities.

“We’re looking at barges, canal tugs, larger class approved workboats and the potential for further ‘Sure Build’ style aluminium builds.”

As reported in Maritime Journal, Burgess Marine launched a new boat concept, called Sure Build, at Mercator Media’s Seawork International 2014 exhibition in Southampton in June. This ‘cost plus’ way of building is designed to expose customers to much lower levels of risk in the sometimes turbulent offshore wind farm market.

Jason Coltman, Meercat’s managing director, said: “Since the acquisition we’ve contracted one 14m new build to Dawnfresh Farming Ltd and we’re in the final stages of agreeing a Canal Tug contract.”

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

By Jake Frith