Clydebuilt
THE THE aquaculture industry is helping to drive a resurgence in engineering in Scotland, with the latest player in this market unveiling ambitious expansion plans last month. Malin Marine, based in Glasgow & Aberdeen and with construction facilities in Renfrew, wants to establish a new marine engineering hub on the Clyde with the potential to create 1,000 jobs.
Malin, which entered the aquaculture market earlier this year, bringing a 16.2m workboat to the Aviemore trade show in May, has commissioned an economic impact assessment on a 47-acre site in West Dunbartonshire.
The site, formerly the Carless oil storage facility, is land zoned for industrial use. It also has direct access to a deep-water channel via an 80m long quayside berth with heavy lift facilities.
‘It’s a big site to be developed over a few years but aquaculture is a key area we see for growth with such facilities,’ said Graham Tait.
The company operates in other markets – including defence, offshore, oil and gas,
renewables, and marine civils – but is looking to do more workboats for Scotland’s aquaculture sector.
Tait said there was a lot of interest in its workboat from visitors to Aquaculture UK in Aviemore.The vessel, built for a mussel farmer, was transported by road to the exhibition from the company’s Renfrew yard on the Clyde.
That boat is now in the water, and Malin is looking to produce a range of vessels suitable for aquaculture support including larger designs.This is very much in response to industry demand – ‘where deck payload and crane capacity is a key factor’.
Although there are several vessels in build for Scottish farm sites we generally see these being constructed overseas but the impact of Brexit on the exchange rate (& other risks) may dampen imports going forward so that’s a help.’
‘It’s good to see the huge potential there is for our company in aquaculture.We are very proud that our workboats can be both designed and built in Scotland.The idea that we’re based in Scotland is a strong part of our pitch.We’re able to design, build & maintain the vessel in-house and close to the end user.’
Malin has a team of draughtsmen, engineers and naval architects who consider customers operational requirements before completing the design. A good design doesn’t just happen. There is a lot of experience and operational knowledge that must lead the process. ‘They work pretty hard over maybe 30 years so they have to be easy to maintain and well built.’
Malin Marine are also well placed to design & construct other major It’s clear the industry are looking further offshore into deeper more hostile locations so there needs to be a step change in technology including cage design and feeding platforms. Our new facility would support these activities.
Phase 1 will include relocating our fabrication facility from Renfrew to the new site on the Clyde, which is much bigger and has direct access on to the deep water berth.
The proposal, which is in an advanced stage of planning with West Dunbartonshire Council, will see a major remediation and regeneration quayside also needs to be redeveloped to support heavy lift projects.
Malin Group managing director John MacSween believes the hub, expected to be set up within three to four years, will be a ‘magnet’ for marine engineering and technology organisations and ‘a centre of excellence’ for the sector.
‘The heritage of the Clyde is something of which we should all be rightly proud,’ he said.
‘We have been working in the shipping industry for over 100 years and have a passion for the river and its history, but there is a need to be looking to the future to ensure the long-term success of the Clyde as a maritime centre of excellence.’
Being on potential clients’ doorstep is a distinct advantage, said Tait, and he sees a bright future for Scottish engineering in the aquaculture industry.
‘There’s a strong demand there for a high standard and we have to be able to meet that.’
For more information contact: 01224 288 918, www.malingroup.com/ workboats, or workboats@malingroup.com
Aquaculture is a key area we see for growth with such