Harry’s medal recognises importance of marine services to UK

UK DOCKS’ founder Harry Wilson says he views the MBE medal he received in the King’s Birthday Honours List as a sign that the importance of marine services to the UK does not go unnoticed.

Last week, the 82-year-old travelled to Windsor Castle, where his wife, Audrey, and sons Chris, Gary and Jonathan - all now directors of the company - were among those watching as Her Royal Highness, the Princess Anne presented him with his medal and congratulated Harry on his achievements.

The Wilsons at Windsor Castle, from l to r, Chris, Audrey, Harry, Gary and Jonathan.

"It was definitely one of the highlights of my life and I enjoyed the chance to have a talk to Princess Anne,” Harry said.

“But I have to say that I was proud I was there representing marine services and engineering, among all the other people being honoured, and it’s really pleasing that our industry is recognised alongside the achievements of others.”

“Marine services make a huge and important contribution to our country and I think the way the world is going, that contribution is only going to increase in the years ahead,” he said.

Harry’s medal was presented in recognition of Harry’s service to the marine industry over the decades and acknowledged his efforts to revive boat repair and dockyards at a time when the sector seemed to be in terminal decline in this country.

Harry Wilson MBE and wife Audrey at Windsor Castle

He launched the company from a single slipway in 1992 and went on to revive marine services on Tyneside, Teesside and on the south coast at Gosport in Portsmouth and Cremyll in Cornwall.

A decade ago, UK Docks successfully re-opened the former Smith’s Docks on the River Tees and that helped drive the company to new levels - gaining major Royal Navy contracts while servicing a host of other maritime vessels from its two dry docks.

Having established itself as a leading name in the UK’s ship repair industry, UK Docks has moved increasingly into servicing Ministry of Defence contracts for the Royal Navy.

Those efforts culminated last year with the winning of a £250m contract to service and maintain five Batch 2 Offshore Patrol vessels across the globe.

And Harry reckons there is much more to come from the company.

“I’m very excited about the future of UK Docks because, in many ways, we might only just have put the foundations in place,” he said.

“My three lads are not people who believe in standing still, and the company has a long way to go yet. What has been achieved so far might just be the launch pad for greater things ahead.”

Now employing more than  200 people, as well as supporting many supply chain jobs, one of the key driving forces behind the growth of UK Docks was Harry’s desire to regenerate areas of industrial decline and give something back to the community, including creating jobs.

He said: "The object of the exercise, after founding UK Docks and being able to make a living out of it, was to genuinely put something back into the ship repair industry.

"I'd had a pretty decent life from it, not necessarily an easy one, but a decent one and I believed in the industry and its potential and wanted to see it do well.

"I'm pleased to see that UK Docks has been able to grow over the years.

"I've been lucky to have three sons who have all been interested in the business and have been able to take the company from strength to strength over the years and ensured that it has grown from local to regional to national and now a global concern.”

Harry’s son, Jonathan, UK Docks’ managing director, said: "We're obviously immensely proud of him - he's a one-off.

"It was Harry who had this vision of developing ship repair and re-opening yards at a time when so many others were closing and he's been proven right in his decision-making time after time.

"He's got a great reputation in our industry and he's responsible for what this company has grown into today.

"It's also, I think, a recognition of his charity work over the years because he has strongly backed a number of important causes and, in particular, has been a long-time supporter of South Shields Sea Cadets."

Military’s Silver Award received with pride by UK Docks

UK DOCKS has been formally presented with its Armed Forces’ Silver Award in recognition of its continuing efforts to support ex-military personnel.

The company has previously earned an Armed Forces Bronze Award and is delighted to have built on that achievement to the point where a Silver has now been given to UK Docks.

Members of the senior management team attended a presentation ceremony at the Ramside Hall Hotel on the edge of Durham on behalf of UK Docks to receive the Award.

UK Docks’ Jonathan Wilson, Gary Wilson and Stephen Lee receive the Armed Forces’ Silver Award on behalf of the company.

And they were joined by fellow winners of the award on a night when senior members of the military thanked companies for their participation in a scheme which allows former military personnel a clear transition into jobs and careers outside of the armed services.

UK Docks has now earned a Silver Award to go witht

Explaining to fellow guests, the UK Docks Silver award, The master of ceremonies gave the following citation to guests on the night to explain what the company does and how it has sought to support the armed forces.

“UK Docks Marine Services is a family run maritime support business based in South Shields but with a global reach. 

“Since 1992 they have built an excellent reputation for their delivery across a wide range of maritime repair and conversion work in the offshore and defence arenas, delivering from across five sites both in the North East and on the South coast.

“With their HQ centred on the River Tyne they are very much part of the community and no more so than the Defence community.

“They are proud employers of 15 Veterans as well as several Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and Reservists.

“These personal links to the Armed Forces is the silver thread which runs through to this well-deserved award.

“Their enduring commitment to the local Sea Cadets at TS Collingwood is an exemplar for all; Christmas parties, cadet bursaries and sail training for those most in need, is just some of what they do. 

“They are also selfless in their support of local charities including Veterans in Crisis which operates in Sunderland.

“Following their signing of the Armed Forces Covenant in 2018 and their award of Bronze in 2022, this Silver Award is justly achieved this year. Many congratulations!”

UK Docks managing director, Jonathan Wilson, said: “The Award is for everyone at UK Docks who has been involved in extending and improving our offer to former armed forces personnel.

“The company has always had strong links to former members of the Armed Forces, recognising the expertise and personal qualities they bring to UK Docks both in our sites around the country and also in our work abroad.

“We take great pride in the contracts we have with the Ministry of Defence, including the servicing and maintaining of the Royal Navy’s five Batch 2 vessels - HMS’s Tamar, Trent, Medway, Spey and Forth - and the icebreaker HMS Protector, across the world.

“But closer to home we focus on supporting organisations close to the armed forces and prioritise the employment of ex-service personnel who have contributed greatly to the company’s growth and success in the past few decades.”

Shape of things to come as historic rum store’s impressive new look unveiled

THE first glimpse of what a restored Rum Store in Gosport’s Victoria Quay will look like after its impending multi-million-pound renovation has been revealed.

The architect’s impression of the transformed derelict Grade II listed building shows an impressive, elegant structure which transforms the original Victorian warehouse into a perfectly appointed 21st-century facade,

The reimagined Rum Store on Victoria Quay in Gosport as it will look after renovation and return to public function.

Published by Gosport Borough Council, the design illustrates how the 150-year-old building will transition from a redundant site into an engine of regeneration for the local community.

The UK Docks-owned building was formerly the house of the entire Royal Navy store of rum rations but ran into decline in the early years of the 20th century and was critically damaged in the Second World War when German bombs destroyed most of the first floor of the vast building.

The Rum Store as it currently stands with much of its outer facade retained but almost entirely derelict inside.

Now it is set to transform from an eyesore into a centre of growth, with a restored building being the centrepiece of a transformative reimagining of Victoria Quay.

The proposed renovation would create nearly 7,000 sqm of mixed-use employment space, mainly for maritime businesses like yacht brokers and naval architects. 

Other units in the building are earmarked for retail and leisure, including a possible rooftop terrace bar and restaurant with views across Portsmouth Harbour.

It's expected that the restored building could be completed as early as summer 2026, creating up to 200 jobs and boosting the local economy by £11m a year.

Costing £22m, the revamp would see the Grade II listed property turned into mixed employment space with some retail and leisure units.

Proposed works to renovate the building include:

• Specialist conservation repairs to the historic structure

• Reconstruction of collapsed floors

• New open plan gallery entrance with staircase and lifts

• Reconstruction of the second floor which was demolished following World War II bomb damage

• Construction of a rooftop bar and terrace

The project is led by UK Docks Marine Servies and Pritchard Architecture with the support of Gosport Borough Council, sponsored by a grant from the Government’s Levelling-Up fund.

In 2023, Gosport Borough Council led a bid for Government Levelling Up funding to renovate the Rum Store building, match-funded by UK Docks.

The council's bid also included support for public realm improvements along the waterfront to encourage more residents and visitors to discover the attractions and businesses on that route. 

This will include creating new physical links to help more people access the waterfront while telling the story of heritage through wayfinding, public art and more.

Ben Mason, UK Docks Portfolio Manager at Victoria Quay, said: "This project could provide huge opportunities for Gosport residents and businesses. 

“Working with Gosport Borough Council has given us access to government funding and helped unlock solutions to problems that were bigger than just our site at Victoria Quay, such as local infrastructure.

“The council has big plans for regeneration in the borough and we're delighted to be a partner in that."

Councillor Peter Chegwyn, leader of Gosport Borough Council, said: "The Rum Store is a key piece of the jigsaw of improving Gosport's waterfront. 

“Not only could this project restore a derelict historic building, it'll create a new commercial and leisure destination for people to enjoy. 

“We hope it'll welcome more residents and visitors alike to explore a more connected waterfront."

Full details can be seen in the planning portal on the Gosport Borough Council website.

Reconnecting Gosport's historic waterfront

The Rum Store is a part of the council's wider plans to revitalise and reconnect the town's historic waterfront.

New video showcases UK Docks' growing marine services portfolio nationwide

A new video highlighting UK Docks marine services operations across the country has been created by Annelies James of 22MIdnight.

The video underlines the company’s position as the country’s largest, independent, privately-owned marine services provider.

It showcases our bases at UK Docks Tyneside, Teesside, Cremyll and Gosport (where Annelies is based), through video and drone footage.

DJI drones were used, operating under a drone licence and aware of restricted fly zones while also dodging high winds, (and birds!), to get wide angles, spins, pans and float. 

The software used was Adobe Premier Pro, alongside copyright-free music and creative use of graphic design.

Annelies said of the project: "It was pretty complicated work pulling it all together, but really enjoyable at the same time and we're happy with the results.

"It shows how impressive UK Docks is and the video can be used at displays and exhibitions, as well as online, as an engaging and interesting way to interact with clients and customers."

The 22Midnight video shows where the company currently stands, what we do and what we offer to the marine sector around our shores in 2024.

Jonathan Wilson, managing director of UK Docks, said: “We’re delighted with 22Midnight’s work which is perfect as a visual presentation of where the company stands and the services it can provide.

“It’s important in business to use every tool at your disposal to highlight and explain your services and a video like this is a simple but very effective way of getting our message across.

“There’s also some great drone footage on there, which helps the viewer get a grasp of what UK Docks facilities are about - something which is hard to appreciate sometimes when you’re at ground level.”

HMS Scimitar now cuts a dash as MV Lady Jean

A former Royal Naval patrol vessel has found a new life as a hospital ship in Africa, thanks to the work of engineers and specialists at UK Docks in Gosport.

HMS Scimitar was a patrol vessel that served with sister ship HMS Sabre as part of the Gibraltar Squadron for many years, safeguarding the waters around the entrance to the Mediterranean.

Both were brought back to the UK, decommissioned and sold, with HMS Scimitar being bought by The Vine Trust charity and converted by UK Docks into a medical ship, the Scimitar being renamed the MV Lady Jean at a naming ceremony in Portsmouth.

Once the conversion work was completed, the new look vessel made a poignant final pass by sister ship HMS Sabre, which was bought by a private owner, before being moved to Southampton where she was loaded on to a vessel transiting to Mombassa.

The refitted and rejuvenated former HMS Scimitar bids a last farewell to sister ship HMS Sabre before heading to Africa.

Having arrived in Kenya, she is now due to be lifted onto a specialist lorry and moved to Lake Victoria in Tanzania where she will operate as a mobile medical vessel, serving the numerous islands on the lake.

Charles Barley, UK Docks director at Endeavor Quay said: “It was an unusual and interesting project for us to work on and it brought several challenges we had to rise to as we worked through the conversion but it was really satisfying for the team.

“It was quite touching at the end, seeing her alongside HMS Sabre for the last time but it’s great that she has important new duties ahead of her.

“As HMS Scimitar, she did Royal Naval work which kept people safe, now, as the MV Lady Jean, she’s doing medical work which will protect people’s health.”

The former HMS Scimitar, now the MV Lady Jean, being lowered back into the water to begin life as a hospital ship.

The year-long conversion was funded by international defence company Babcock, who contracted UK Docks to undertake the work.

UK Docks offered discounted rates, free lifting of the vessel and free storage during conversion which took place on both Victoria and Endeavour Quay.

The changes included a new generator, conversion of the wheelhouse and forward accommodation to suit the needs of a hospital vessel and new galley with fridges, ovens, sink, serving areas and air conditioning unit installed.

There was a total redesign of the aft transom with guardrails, boarding steps and boarding platform put in to allow people to board.

Additionally, a new engine had to be sourced and as the Scimatar’s former engines were obsolete.

That sparked a two-month, European-wide search before, a new MAN truck engine was sourced in Holland. 

Once the engine was shipped back to the UK, it was stripped down and rebuilt into a new engine using parts from both engines, over the course of the next two months with stringent testing being carried out on the resulting engine. 

This solution proved to be a great success and UK Docks were thankful for the help and assistance they received from other collaborators during the project. 

Fully restored and refurbished, the new MV Lady Jean.

UK Docks managing director, Jonathan Wilson, said: “Our company carries out servicing and maintenance of vessels from the North East down to the South Coast and each project is unique in its own way.

“But the conversion of HMS Scimitar into the MV Lady Jean was a particularly special one.

“We would like to thank The Vine Trust and Babcock for entrusting us with the work and we wish the MV Lady Jean many years of successful service on Lake Victoria.”