A busy haven

This comes after a prolonged period of inactivity at the yard during the last three months due to lack of orders and extremes of weather which resulted in several vessels having to be diverted to other repair facilities due to the fact that they were unable to enter Milford Docks.

Haven Marine has just finished a ten day docking on the Svitzer Surrey which the company considers a great coup, considering that the vessel was working in the Port of Southampton and had elected to sail to Milford Haven rather than opting for more local yards. No sooner had the Surrey left the confines of the dry dock, than another Svitzer vessel, the Portgarth entered for a 15 day docking.

Joint Managing Director Brian Summons said, “We are encouraged by the upturn in business with these two vessels and we have several others booked in over the forthcoming months and many specifications to price up. The reputation of the yard has suffered greatly during the past year due to the collapse of Mustang Marine (Wales) Ltd and we have had to work hard to restore that reputation with vessel operators and ships agents who had initially thought that the facility had closed down for good.”

Steven Arnold added, “We have enjoyed a close relationship with Svitzer over the years and are grateful for their continued support in promoting this facility to their superintendents throughout the UK. We currently have people travelling throughout the UK in an attempt to encourage other vessels to use the facility, which is part of our long term strategy to develop a long term and sustainable business, which we believe is critical to the area, especially now in light of the situation with the Murco refinery and the decision not to proceed with the South Hook CHP project.”

Haven Marine Services General Manager, Jeff Mills commented, “Haven Marine Services management and employees have been servicing the requirements of the shipping industry and associated terminals in Milford Haven for many years and . Our long term participation in the ship repair industry has given us unrivalled experience and the expertise to handle a broad range of project work, from supply of minor items to full blown repair specifications.”

Further schedules dockings, include the tall ships, Kaskelot and the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s Tenancious, both of which have visited the yard previously.

By Jake Frith