A winning partnership in marine civils

One great example of this is the working relationship between the marine contractor Teignmouth Maritime Services (TMS Ltd) and Ocean Crest Marine (OCM) – which supplies jack-up barges for its marine civils and construction projects. 

“We’ve been attending Seawork as a visitor now for many years, but as an exhibitor for two. One of the key relationships we’ve formed is with TMS and this has been key to the growth of our company. We’ve doubled in size over the last four years,” said Aran McMonagle, managing director, OCM. 

Branching out 

OCM started out as small company based in Galway, Ireland, which owned just a few jack-up barges. 

But it has branched out over the years and now operates a fleet of jack-up barges from between 50t and 400t deck load. It will also be expanding its plant by another five this year. 

In addition, the company also operates spud barges and a fleet of workboats geared towards marine civils support. 

Its latest jack-up support contract on the Polperro outfall project with TMS Ltd saw the latter win The Maritime Civils Best Project Award at Seawork 2025. 

The GB£5.5m project saw TMS undertake critical work for South West Water in Devon, UK, including repairing the existing outfall pipe that had been damaged by repeated storm action. 

Ocean Crest Marine supplied its OMC 100 jack-up barge to enable the contractor to reach the location of the pipe which ran through an exposed gully on the cliff face – an extremely perilous and difficult project to work on. 

The jack-up barge was positioned 70m from the shore and was used to lift all materials and equipment to the cliff side, enabling the TMS Ltd team to ensure the project was delivered on time and on budget in April 2024. 

Strong partnership

This is just one example coming the partnership that TMS and OMC have formed over the years.

They have worked together on several other projects – including piling works at the Middle Dock site in Appledore, devon, UK, rebuilding the existing quay wall and slipway wall together with slipway improvements. 

The companies are currently working together in Great Yarmouth, UK, on a quay wall restoration project set to complete in July. 

For OCM, key to securing its work with TMS Ltd has been its ability to provide the right size barge for the job. 

“There’s no perfect solution and sometimes it’s like fitting a square peg in a round hole, but we can match the right barge in terms of tonnage needed, cost efficiency, crane requirements and manoeuvrability, ensuring a contractor can gain best return on a job,” said Mr McMonagle. 

For TMS, OCM’s range of barges are a great fit for their requirements. 

“We’re known for civils jobs that are out of the ordinary,” said Richard Tuffs, director, diving operations, TMS Ltd. 

He said that the company is about to undertake building a beluga whale enclosure in Iceland and it’s also chalked up building a land-side hippo pen at Longleat Safari Park in the UK. 

Mr Tuffs explained that the Polperro job was challenging and demanding due to the extreme weather conditions and at some points tackling the 8m swell. 

“The great working relationship we have with OMC had a great impact on us being able to deliver the project safely both on time and in budget,” he said.