South Dorset MP Richard Drax has praised the entrepreneurial vision of Polish maritime engineering company Intermarine UK following its investment in a welding and fabricating facility at the Port of Portland creating 60 new jobs.
Mr Drax, a former army officer and journalist, made his comments during a tour of the facility which opened at Portland Port in January.
Mr Drax said:
“I was over the moon to hear that Intermarine had decided to establish itself at Portland Port. A specialist company working in the world of shipping is exactly what we hoped to attract here, bringing with it the promise of skilled jobs and exciting and rewarding careers. I had the great pleasure to visit the company recently and was immensely impressed by the huge investment it has made and at its plans for the future. This is an innovative and entrepreneurial company, led by the dynamic President, Slawomir Kalicki, who has built his family business from nothing in Poland.”
Intermarine Group President Slawomir Kalicki said the company is looking to create 60 new jobs for local people in the next two years.
“We were thrilled to welcome Mr Drax to Intermarine UK,” he said. “We are making a substantial investment in the South West region after signing a 20-year lease and relocating our UK head office from Bridgend to Portland Port. This is a strong indication of our commitment and long-term vision for the area.
“We were able to show Richard how Intermarine has ploughed six-figure sums into new equipment, including bending machines, welding sets, CNC plasma machines and laser cutters. Mr Drax was interested to hear about our efforts to stimulate business growth and job creation and our new orders including a £800,000 deal to supply piping to a major British shipyard. We were able to tell Mr Drax we have appointed 20 new people including 15 labourers since January. We see huge potential for further job creation due to the strong skills base in the region and we are actively looking to employ local skilled maritime engineers and encourage workers to get in touch.”
Mr Kalicki said the company had been drawn to Portland by its location.
“Portland is tremendously convenient for all manner of vessels, from naval vessels to cruise ships, ferries and tankers, passing along the South Coast and English Channel,” he said. “Intermarine’s role is to complement the range of maritime services already available at the port by offering more extensive ship repair facilities and crucially encourage ship owners to use Portland Port for afloat repairs. We are focusing on delivering fabrication, welding and electrical services. This includes hull and deck repairs as well as pipe work design, installation and upgrade. We will further offer mechanical services including pump and valve overhauls and engine room upgrades. Moreover, we can undertake gallery and electrical upgrades and we can fabricate gates, handrailing and staircases.”
The Inter Marine Group draws on nearly 30-years’ experience in the maritime industry working with major UK brands including BAE, Babcock, Cammell Laird, Fergusons and A&P. It has contributed to major projects including the QUEEN ELIZABETH class aircraft carrier programme and sees further growth opportunities in the shipbuilding and the offshore industry where it can build super structures and ‘yellow steel’ products.
Intermarine UK also provides ship spare parts from Portland including Wartsila, Cegielski, Sulzer, MAN, B&W and Cummins engines, Hydroster IMO pumps, Alfa Laval and Westfalia separators, ABB and Napier and WSK turbochargers as well as marine laundry equipment made by Primus and Lavamac.
For further information on Intermarine UK’s Port of Portland operation Call: 44 2381 580009 Email: enquiries@intermarineuk.com Visit: www.intermarineuk.com
PORTLAND PORT FACTFILE
- Portland is a thriving commercial port located in Dorset on the UK’s south coast.
- Portland Port operated as a base for the Royal Navy for nearly 150 years from the mid 19th century through to 1996 when Portland Port was then privatised and taken over by the Langham Group. Portland Harbour Authority later took over as the statutory harbour authority in 1998.
- Since then the harbour has developed into a thriving commercial port, that handles cruise ships, cargos, bunker vessels and also maintains a strong relationship with the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
- Under the umbrella of the Portland Port Group are two separate entities: Portland Port Ltd and Portland Harbour Authority Ltd
- The port and its tenants are now a major employer within the local economy.
- The port’s close proximity to the English Channel shipping lanes provides an ideal location for vessels both in terms of distance and travel time.
- The harbour is well protected from the south and south westerly winds, as it shelters behind the Isle of Portland and Chesil Beach, and is circled by an extensive breakwater system which protects it from adverse easterly weather conditions.
- Portland Port offers a safe, sheltered and deep harbour which makes it a superb choice for all vessels, from small yachts to some of the largest cruise ships in the world.
- Due to its geographical location, it allows fast, safe access 24 hours a day. The port has a strong reputation as the south coast’s “premier service station”, where vessels are able to undertake a wide range of services; ownership/management/name change surveys, classification surveys, stores and crew transfers, as well as a wealth of underwater operations.
PORT CAPABILITIES
The key features of the port are:
- A dock estate of nearly 200 hectares and a marine jurisdiction stretching over 2400 hectares
- Over 2000 metres of alongside berths
- 6 metres (C.D) depth of water at the deepest alongside berth
- 6 designated anchorages in the outer harbour with depths at anchorage of up to 20 metres (C.D)
- 9 designated anchorages within the inner harbour with depths at anchorage of up to 15 metres (C.D)
- Very little beam and draft restriction with width at harbour entrance at 210 metres and depth at 12.4 metres (C.D)
- Pilotage and towage available 24/7
INTER MARINE GROUP BACKGROUND
The Inter Marine Group’s roots trace back to 1990 when our mother company: Inter Marine Sp. z o.o. was established.
The Inter Marine Group has grown into an international group of companies (IM Group) that is active in the following business areas:
- Marine Engineering
- International trade
- Employment agency (on land and sea)
Shipping services, forwarding and logistics