UK yards join forces to offer new repair option

SMS (Southampton Marine Services) and the Fairline-owned Hythe Shipyard in the UK have linked to offer a package of marine repair, maintenance and refit services for yachts and commercial vessels. Both shipyards, based on Southampton Water or adjacent to, will work together in sharing facilities and skills to secure new work.

SMS, owned by Peter Morten and mobile phone entrepreneur Sir Charles Dunstone, is an established ship repair company providing services to superyachts and commercial vessels in recent years.

The Hythe Shipyard was acquired by Fairline and is being developed as its yacht-building facility for all craft over 21m (70ft). Located at Marchwood at the top of Southampton Water, the facility can haul out vessels up to 950 tonnes or of 55m (180ft) in length with an 11.5m (37.75ft) beam. The yard offers moorings for craft between 10m-100m (33ft-328ft), 10,000sq m of covered space and 24/7 security.

SMS actively provides repair, maintenance and refit services to the superyacht, commercial marine and defence sectors as well as fabrication, diving and sub-surface marine engineering services. Its yard, based on the River Itchen, is an ‘open’ facility ensuring that the company can bring its full suite of trades to site, including, but not limited to, structural and mechanical repair teams, electrical and hydraulic engineers, painting and coatings experts and interior and exterior outfitters.

Under the agreement between SMS and Hythe Shipyard, the Hythe Shipyard is now open for ship repair works and refits both shoreside and alongside.

Rob Hammond, commercial manager of the Hythe Shipyard, said: “We know we’ve got a great facility and to have now partnered with SMS allows us to offer the full shipyard proposition. We can price the yard side competitively, and SMS have a unique reputation for being both value-for-money and ensuring quality delivery. Together we’re a very strong proposition.”

Chris Norman, managing director of SMS, said: “The site is perfect, ideally located and spacious enough for the largest of refits. Having worked here myself for many, many years, it’s genuinely exciting to not only see the yard’s future but to be a small part of it. We look forward to working with commercial manager Rob Hammond and his team, and helping develop this site into a real ship repair hub.”