Dales Marine Services

At The Double For Dales Marine
1 March 2011

Ship repair and maintenance specialist, Dales Marine Services, is starting the year at the double, with a hat-trick of simultaneous dockings at its Aberdeen and Leith facilities, on Scotland’s east coast.

In the first double docking at Leith's Imperial Dock since Dales Marine began operations there last March, Sealion's Toisa Independent and Vroon Offshore's Vos Supporter were in at the same time earlier this year - the Toisa vessel for UHP hull blasting and main propulsion overhauls, while Vroon's vessel underwent a special survey, including engine overhauls.

Vos Server and Vos Guardian have also been into Leith in another double docking - Server for a special survey; steel work repairs, mainly in tanks; new propellers and work on the tailshafts, and Guardian for an intermediate docking.

Sartor Offshore's Ocean Spey and Shetland Island Council's ferry, Linga, are docking simultaneously in Aberdeen during March, both for 11 days - Ocean Spey for an intermediate docking and engine and propulsion work, Linga for painting.

Dales Marine Director and General Manager, Michael Milne, said: "The double dockings demonstrate the versatility and capacity of our facilities and contribute to a busy start to what looks like being another very active year."

The nine dry dockings at Aberdeen in the first quarter include ferries - one of them a catamaran - and oil-related vessels, including the offshore supply vessel Mana, with Indian owners, Garware Offshore, using the facility for the first time. Leith has attracted six dockings in the same period, including oil-related vessels and the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry, Clansman.

With another 12 vessels booked for Aberdeen and seven for Leith so far, there is also an extensive workload at the tender stage.

Dales Marine also undertakes projects alongside quays at Aberdeen, Leith and other ports, including Montrose where it has a workshop to support projects.

Part of the Dales Group, the company was established in 1987. In Aberdeen since 1991, it has leased the dry dock and associated facilities, since 2004. Dales Marine currently employs around 100.