Dales Marine Services

Another Busy Year In Prospect For Dales Marine Services
21 April 2009

Healthy order book for dry-dock work

The first of four vessels from Shetland which are booked for dry-docking with Dales Marine Services this year is currently at the Aberdeen facility.

Shetland Islands Council's double-ended ferry, Daggri, will be followed by her sister vessel, Dagalien, in mid-May, making it the third time they have each sailed south for bi-ennual dry-docking at Dales. Each is expected to be dry-docked for around nine days.

The Council tugs, Tystie and Dunter, will also pay return visits, in May and June respectively, having previously used the dry-dock.

The scope of activity over the four vessels includes general servicing, washing, painting, and engine and propulsion work.

The Shetland vessels are among around 25 ships booked so far for 2009, with dry-dockings scheduled as far ahead as late year. There are also a number of bookings for 2010. Activity this year to date has included a catamaran ferry and a French trawler, as well as oil-related vessels.

Dales Marine Director and General Manager, Michael Milne, said: "The dry dock bookings and the high level of enquires, along with the volume of repair and maintenance work we carry out afloat, means that it promises to be another busy year."

Established in 1987 in Peterhead and in Aberdeen since 1991, Dales Marine has operated the two-acre site, with dry dock – at 112m x 21m x 6.5m, the largest privately-operated facility in Scotland – since 2004. The majority of vessels serviced are oil-related, along with commercial shipping, tugs, and ferries.

Services include fabrication, mechanical engineering, diesel engine overhauls and structural steelwork for shipping, oil and gas, chemical, power generation and civil engineering industries.