Mustang Marine, which is under a new ownership and management structure after being bought out of administration in May 2014 by a group of nine investors, has completed a broad range of orders in what was a successful second half of 2014, the company reports. Now, the Pembroke Dock-based firm says it is actively recruiting skilled workers and apprentices to meet a busy work schedule going into the New Year.
Mustang Marine has created 12 new jobs over the last six months, bringing the total workforce to 42 people. The company seeks to recruit a further 18 employees by mid-2015, doubling its original workforce.
Captain Mark Meade, chairman of Mustang Marine, who is also the managing director of Holyhead Boatyard, said, “Over 90 percent of the current shareholding in Mustang Marine came from new sources, and together we’ve worked hard to produce a business plan that focuses on sustainable growth and investment in our workforce.”
“We’re on course to achieve the objectives we set for our first year, and have ambitious plans for the longer term,” Meade added.
The company fulfilled several notable contracts in 2014, including the launch of the 26-meter offshore support vessel Dart Fisher, and delivery of a tidal energy device that will be tested off Ramsey Sound during 2015. Additionally, steady repair, servicing and maintenance work on the company’s four slipways has also brought success, the company notes. Current contracts include a new 20-meter BMT Nigel Gee design wind farm support vessel and a £250,000 multipurpose workboat fit-out. Contracts lined up include a range of steel and aluminum workboats for customers in the U.K., Europe and Asia.
“One of the crucial factors has been the variety of work we’ve seen come in over the last six months,” explained Stewart Graves, managing director of Mustang Marine. “The excellent workforce that we have been able to maintain have a comprehensive base of marine engineering skills and a depth of experience, which has helped us meet these challenging projects.”
“We employ a naval architect, design engineers and skilled fabricators, welders, electricians, shipwrights and fitters. Now we’re about to start recruiting project and design engineers, as well as skilled tradesmen, to meet the program of work that we have lined up for 2015,” Graves continued. “We’re also looking into apprenticeship opportunities, and ultimately aim to have an apprentice for each of the skilled trades we employ in our workforce.”
