NEWS
Joining forces - Group Industrial MD Mike Marsh ( right ) with A & P Group ’ s Dave Young .
Group Industrial seals major new marine contract
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURES : TOM BANKS
SHIPSHAPE
A
growing industrial services firm is continuing its voyage of discovery by working with a major shipping group . In just three years , Middlesbroughbased Group Industrial has quickly grown from a fledgeling firm to become a trusted supplier of many aspects of industrial services work including fabrication , insulation , scaffolding , rope access , pipework and project management .
Previously in Tees Business , we told how the firm – based at Dawson ’ s Wharf in Middlesbrough – was undertaking the “ preservation ” of a sprawling 120-acre site at Port Clarence , which is home to a so-far unused biomass power station .
And eager to branch out into new areas , the firm also told how it was moving into the shipping sector – a natural “ fit ”, perhaps , given its Dawson ’ s Wharf location .
But now that move into shipping has moved up several notches thanks to a growing relationship with a maritime-based neighbour .
Just along the river , A & P Tees – part of global ship repair , conversion and marine specialists A & P Group – is widely recognised as a centre of excellence for offshore vessels , dredgers and tankers .
A & P ’ s five-acre Tees facility comprises two dry docks and 240 metres of jetty frontage , complemented by extensive workshops , cranes of up to 40 tonnes and secure tank washing facilities . It can also build offshore modules , subsea structures and new ship sections on site .
With Group Industrial being just along the river at Dawson ’ s Wharf , it was perhaps logical to link up .
And according to Group Industrial MD Mike Marsh , the relationship has been plain sailing so far .
He said : “ We ’ ve been working with A & P on a reactive basis for eight months now , providing scaffolding and fabrication works . We ’ ve worked closely with them and grown our relationship .
“ It ’ s a reactive industry , shipping – they undertake various contracts and different scopes of work .
And the relationship is going from strength to strength .
“ We are working closely with the company to tailor an effective system which supports the bespoke requirements of each specific project undertaken by A & P Shipping .
“ It ’ s something we ’ re confident will continue to grow into a strong , ongoing relationship .”
Mike explained their work for A & P ranges from maintenance work on cranes and in the shipyard to the provision of scaffolding to vessels that come along the Tees – either to A & P ’ s own yards or further along the Tees to Dawson ’ s Wharf itself .
“ I suppose that to an extent it ’ s been a case of ‘ right place , right time ’ – being local , and being by the river . Where I ’ m based at Dawson ’ s Wharf , they often have ships docked there and we ’ re effectively within walking distance .
“ We ’ re doing maintenance work on their Smiths Dock site – cranes , scaffolding , fabrication work and general yard maintenance – but we ’ re also providing a scaffolding service on the shipping side when vessels dock or go into dry dock . And there are some hefty vessels that come in !”
Mike hopes to attract more work in the
38 | Tees Business