Carmet Tug Company’s River Mersey shipyard acquired by new owners

UK shipbuilder the Marine Specialised Technology Group (MST) has acquired Carmet Shipyard from local operator Carmet Tug Company at Bromborough on the banks of the River Mersey for an undisclosed sum.

MST will move its boat building, servicing, and maintenance operations to the new site during the second quarter of 2022.

MST secured the site during the second half of 2021 and has already embarked on a £1 million (US$1.28 million) refurbishment programme covering the entire 2.6-hectare site with total refurbishment of the existing 80-metre main and 50-metre secondary boat building halls, brand new offices, new car parking facilities, and the erection of additional composite and fabrication facilities.

The new facilities boast 25-tonne overhead traveling gantry cranes, a 700-tonne slipway that launches directly into the river, and a 100-tonne amphibious boat travel hoist that provides additional boat launch and recovery facilities and access onto the hard standing areas.

MST said it has a long-term plan for further investment. This plan will see the facilities expanded and enhanced even further to create a hub for small craft design, manufacture and service.

The shipyard was originally founded in 1974 by McTay Marine and produced 119 vessels before going into liquidation in 2015 and subsequently being taken over by local tug operator Carmet Marine.