Millions of pounds of investment has been made into a Hull business which plays a vital role in the region's offshore wind sector.
MMS Offshore Renewables Services, based at Hull’s Alexandra Dock, provides support vessels for the booming renewables industry.
It has now secured a £2.3m lending package from Yorkshire Bank, and has used the investment to add a new ship to its fleet.
The new vessel, named MMS Supreme, will operate in a number of ways, from transporting crews to offshore wind farms, to moving equipment.
Rob Langton, managing director at MMS Offshore Renewable Services, said: “Our investment in this state-of-the-art vessel signals the next stage of our growth strategy and will allow us to improve our overall service and increase our presence in the market. “We have worked with Yorkshire Bank for over 20 years and their ongoing support has been hugely appreciated.”
The new ship will double MMS Offshore’s capacity to support the wind sector.
MMS Offshore Renewable Services Ltd is a subsidiary of MMS Ship Repair and Dry Dock Co. Ltd, which was established in 1988 and provides a complete repair and refit service for ship owners across Hull.
The offshore arm of the company was founded to support the growing renewables industry.
Daniel Ruston, corporate and commercial relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank, said: “We’re proud to be backing a well-established business with a rich heritage of supporting the maritime and marine sector in its native Hull, which is one of the city’s most important industries.
“Investment in the Humber’s offshore wind sector is steadily growing and the management team at MMS Offshore Renewable Services are in a prime position to capitalise on this trend.
“As a Bank, we’re committed to supporting SMEs across the region and look forward to working with the business into the future.”
Earlier this month, the government released its offshore wind sector deal.
Included in it was a target to triple the number of highly-skilled workers in the industry, and increase the number of women working in it to at least a third.
The Humber took centre stage in the sector deal, and was described as being “a model for the world” as businesses including Siemens Gamesa and Rix Shipping received praise.
Claire Perry, Energy & Clean Growth Minister said: “This new Sector Deal will drive a surge in the clean, green offshore wind revolution that is powering homes and businesses across the UK, bringing investment into coastal communities and ensuring we maintain our position as global leaders in this growing sector.”
