Dales Marine Services

Dales Marine Services Recruits More Apprentices
23 June 2009

Learning skills at Aberdeen dry dock facility

The photograph shows (standing left-right): Jamie Dingwall; Michael Milne, Dales Marine Director and General Manager; Eddie Black, Banff and Buchan College Technology Department Engineering Vocational Qualification Manager; Chris Blackall; (kneeling): Gari Jo Buchan; Martin Green; and Jack Taylor. The Shetland Islands Council tug, Dunter, can be seen in the dry dock.

Five more apprentices have started training with ship repair and maintenance company, Dales Marine Services, at its Aberdeen dry dock facility this week, bringing the total to more than 50 since the long-running programme was initiated.

The scheme was introduced when Dales Marine was established in Peterhead in the late 1980s and continued when it relocated to Aberdeen in 1991. The intake was expanded to five apprentices annually when the company took over the operatorship of the dry dock at Aberdeen Harbour in 2004 and there was an increased workforce to pass on experience.

The latest recruits, again sourced from Banff and Buchan College, in Fraserburgh, are Chris Blackall, Turriff; Gari Jo Buchan and Jamie Dingwall, both Fraserburgh; and Martin Green and Jack Taylor, both Peterhead.

Most of the annual intakes are aged 16-17, with some up to 19, and have done a year at College, completing a Level 2 National Certificate before joining the company where they work towards a National Certificate Level 3, with the option of going for a Higher National Certificate. Training includes day release at College in the first year, with workplace assessment by College tutors for Level 3 over the next two years.

Dales Marine Director and General Manager, Michael Milne, said: "From the outset, the company has recognised the importance of training, both in developing careers and providing skills, and the quality of recruits sourced from Banff and Buchan College is always very good."

"The amount of ground covered in our comprehensive three-year training regime is probably equivalent to five years in college, and when they complete apprenticeships as welders, platers and engineers, they are automatically offered employment with Dales Marine at tradesman rates."

The latest apprentices to become time-served this month are David Ironside, St Combs Kevin Patterson, Peterhead; Mark Ritchie, Fraserburgh; and Stephen Thompson, Peterhead.

David Cook, Banff and Buchan College Technology Sector Manager, said: "It is marvellous to work with a company such as Dales Marine who are committed to providing their employees with nationally recognised qualifications. These new tradesman are a credit to themselves and I am sure will be a great asset to their company and their industry for the future."

The company employs up to 100 people in Aberdeen where the dry dock, at 112m x 21m x 6.5m, is the largest privately-operated facility in Scotland. The majority of vessels serviced are oil-related, along with commercial shipping, tugs, and ferries. Repair and maintenance is also carried out afloat at various ports.

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