I was pleased to attend the official opening of the new Swanwick Marina boatyard, with many berth holders, local residents and tenants involved with the £5.8million development
With a new purpose-built boatyard, a highly trained yard team, and an outstanding line up of marine services, Swanwick Marina’s boatyard is a great place to carry out routine boat maintenance or to make a running repair.
The Marina’s boatyard operates at all states of the tide - 7 days a week and year round. Its highly trained team of machine operators and boat handlers provide lift, launch and block-off services that include high- pressure wash hull cleaning, mast removal and engine lifts.
The yard’s facilities are outstanding too and comprise: a new hoist bay; a dry stack launch bay, a waiting pontoon and a dry stack area. There is also a new self-serve fuel pontoon with a dedicated high-speed pump for large power boats and a new pump out unit. Swanwick’s boatyard equipment is also second to none and includes a 65 tonne travel lift, a 25 tonne transporter, a 18 tonne mobile crane and a new specialist Neptune marine forklift for dry stack lifting and launching.
To mark the Grand Opening, an official opening ceremony took place in which CEO Pete Bradshaw and Fareham Borough Council leader, Sean Woodward unveiled a specially-made plaque on the boatyard buildings as crowds looked on.
I enjoyed watching the Warsash Sea Cadets perform and it was great to meet the companies who are using the site, from boat and RIB sales to rigging and valeting, heating and engine advice and new online RYA training courses.
Other onsite tenants include Sea Ventures, Ancasta, Princess, Sunseeker and Clipper, all of whom showcased a range of new and used boats, plus electronics business, Landau exhibiting Garmin, Raymarine and Navico roadshow trailers, offering demonstrations and expert advice. A great range of marine engineering companies like Keto Marine and Swanwick Marine Engineers were represented too.
I hope that in Fareham we attract further investment in the local marine economy. Building on the £5.3m investment into the Innovation Centre at Daedalus and the Solent Enterprise Zone, Swanwick is an example of how investment by businesses related to the advanced marine and manufacturing sector can boost the number of local highly-skilled jobs in Fareham.