Scotland

Investing in Rhu Marina

Improvements are currently being made at Rhu Marina following a £700,000 investment from property managers The Crown Estate.

Following previous investments that include a £1.4 million injection in 2010, The Crown Estates’ latest investment will provide the Marina with new equipment including concrete-decked walkways, pontoons and Wi-Fi. This will help to modernise the facility and allow Rhu Marina to secure its position as a leading name in the marine tourism industry in Scotland.

GSS Marine Services is the main contractor and is working with pontoon manufacturers Varis Engineering Ltd to carry out the installation of equipment using their versatile multipurpose work boat, Laura M.

Scotland Coastal Manager, Paul Bancks, said:

“This investment will provide new state-of-the-art facilities for local customers and the wider UK boating community. Our total investment in Rhu Marina of over £2.3 million over two years shows our continued commitment to the marine leisure sector and the benefits it delivers to the economy and communities in the Clyde and beyond.”

Quay Marinas Managing Director, Simon Haigh, added:

“This investment is great news for all our boating customers. All boats can now be berthed within the more sheltered areas of the marina during winter months and the upgraded equipment will provide a modern and robust pontoon system.

“Work has already started and we look forward to working with The Crown Estate and Varis Engineering to complete the projects and bring real benefits to our customers.”

Located on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, Rhu Marina comprises 35 swing moorings along with a number of marine workshops, a chandlery and boat storage areas capable of holding 140 boats. In 2008 The Crown Estate purchased Rhu Marina for £4 million and subsequently leased the operation of the site to Quay Marinas Ltd.

As landlord of Rhu Marina, The Crown Estate continues to invest in the facility and actively encourages nearby businesses to become as successful as the Marina.

Mike Balmforth of the Scottish Boating Alliance and British Marine Federation Scotland, said:

“Additions and improvements to boating infrastructure are always welcome. The Crown Estate’s financial input to the recreational boating and marine tourism industry is a significant factor in its expansion in recent years. Today, the industry is worth some £300 million per year and growing.”

 

GSS Marine Services

Established in 1989, GSS Marine Services is a marine construction consultancy that specialises in vessel hire and civil engineering works. In 2005, the company was bought by managing director Jamie McGarry and this fresh injection of management led to an expansion of services to include a larger fleet with increased capabilities.

GSS Marine Services plays an active role in marine construction works around Britain and Europe and presently has contracts in Sierra Leone, Australia, Papa New Guinea and Nigeria.

GSS Marine Services Business Development Manager, Billy Hamilton, said:

“The original Rhu Marina piles and pontoons were installed in 1976 and were near the end of their life expectancy. The recent extreme storms in late 2011/early 2012 caused extensive damage to the original timber decked pontoons and so The Crown Estate ordered the replacement of all the remaining walkway pontoons and fingers. Associated greenheart timber piles will also be removed and replaced with new steel tubular piles. The operation will be carefully planned and executed to minimise disruption to the busy marina.”

Billy Hamilton added:

“At GSS Marine Services we pride ourselves on providing top quality vessels with the best crew currently available. We keep our crew on fixed contracts and as they work on the same vessels with each job our skippers and crew know exactly which parts of the world they are going to.

“This allows each operation to run smoothly and it’s this way of working that has allowed us to expand the company onwards and upwards.”

About the author

Roma Publications