South Shields Sea Cadets boats set to come in...thanks to UK Docks

SOUTH Shields Sea Cadets 315 Corps named ‘TS Collingwood’ are feeling buoyant as work nears completion on the first of two brand-new boats.

The builds have been made possible thanks to a £10,000 donation from Cadets’ president, Harry Wilson, MBE, founder of UK Docks Marine Services in River Drive as well as material support directly from UK Docks.

However, the assembly of the boats has been a real challenge, with the boats needing to meet stringent standards in compliance with the requirements of the Royal Navy, Cadet Forces Training Afloat Regulations and Safety.

Cadet 1st Class Amber, Cadet Corporal Abbie and Cadet Amaani with Vice Chair Keith Trotter, NEMT Chair Alec Renwick, and John Eltringham MBE chair of TS Collingwood.

John Eltringham, chairman of TS Collingwood, admitted: “It has been a tough job and has taken over a year to get to the stage where we’re ready to put the boat in the water.

“But it has been worth it because not only has the work been carried out to the highest standards but also because the cadets have learned a lot from being involved; we’ve used it as a training exercise for them.”

Cadet 1st Class Amber, Cadet Amaani, TS Collingwood Vice Chair Keith Trotter, NEMT Chair Alec Renwick, (In boat) Cadet Corporal Abbie, John Eltringham MBE TS Collingwood chair.

The boats are being built by the North East Maritime Trust, a charitable organisation housed at the other end of Wapping Street on Satellite Quay.

The Maritime Trust focuses on historic working boat restoration, repair and conservation, so the new builds presented an unusual challenge.

John said: “The hard work has been in the assembly, but the first boat is due to be completed around Easter, and because of the knowledge and experience gained, it should mean that the second is ready for some time in the Autumn.”

Cadet Amber, Cadet Corporal Adie and Cadet Armaani and one of the new boats.

The new arrivals will be a boost to the T.S. Collingwood Cadets, who currently have more than 60 cadets supported by around 20 volunteer staff.

The Cadet’s current boats, Trinity 500s, are over a decade old.

“They’re good boats but they naturally attract wear and tear,” said John. “They were produced in partnership with Trinity House as part of Trinity House’s 500th anniversary celebrations in 2014

"The boats were provided to sea cadet units throughout the UK at a discounted rate and we were lucky to receive two from South Tyneside College on permanent loan.

“TS Collingwood has a particular excellence in junior and senior cadet rowing competition in local and especially our female teams at national level.

"These new boats will be very welcome as an additional training resource and will support us taking part in all regattas as well as South Shields Marine School Annual Charity Tyne Rowing Race.

"For this we provide crew training and safety cover.

“The vessels are crewed by four rowers and a cox, and the first boat will soon be ready to sit out on the water.

“The boating season will soon be upon us and we’re looking forward to getting started.”

The development of the boats has been overseen by project manager Matthew Cunningham.

Alec Renwick, chair of the North East Maritime Trust said: “We have been delighted to be involved in this important, unique boat-building project. 

“Our members really enjoy working with the Sea Cadets and are looking forward to completing the work with them.” 

John Eltringham thanked UK Docks president Harry Wilson and the company for the backing which has made the labour of love possible for both the Maritime Trust and several of the cadets.

He said: ”People often don’t realise that the Sea Cadets, as a registered charity are not fully-funded unlike the Army or Airforce Cadets, so having someone supporting us like Harry is a big part of our success.

“It’s also great to have his pride and passion in the cadets and we’ve relied on his wise counsel for many years.

• The first boat will be launched at an official blessing ceremony sometime after Easter.

UK Docks Teesside trebles in size with full acquisition of former Smith's dockyards

UK Docks has agreed on a long-term lease on two more dry docks on Teesside, a move which will see the massive former Smith's dockyards site brought roaring back to life under one company, with new jobs created to boost marine services on the river.

UK Docks Marine already operated two of the dry docks previously belonging to the iconic Smith's Docks Company but is now set to reopen the other two.

This means that the entire former Smith's dockyard estate, which opened in the first decade of the 20th century and closed in 1987, is once again being run by a single company.

For UK Docks, signing the contract to take over yards that have been vacant for almost a year is a proud moment.

The goal now is to turn Teesside into an even more important destination hub for ship maintenance and repair nationally and internationally in the years ahead, launching a new era for marine services and repair on the Tees.

The announcement of the new tenancy follows months of negotiation with site owners PD Ports.

Dan Haslar, senior property manager at PD Ports, (orange hat), congratulates UK Docks founder Harry Wilson and his sons Gary, Jonathan and Chris.

Multi-million pound investment

The agreement will now spark a multi-million-pound investment in the yard, which has two dry docks and extensive workshops across its 10-acre site but will benefit from extensive modernisation in the next few years.

UK Docks’ managing director, Jonathan Wilson, said: “We are delighted to have taken over the site and look forward to redeveloping it and restoring it to a functional facility again.

“We see a lot of potential and possibilities in the site and have a five-year plan to maximise it as an asset.

“Work will start immediately bringing it back to life, and we expect to have it effectively operational again very soon.

“The lease effectively trebles UK Docks’ footprint on the Tees from five acres to 16.5 acres, and we plan to have both sites working in harmony with each other to the benefit of our customers.”

Frans Calje, chief executive officer of PD Ports, said: “We are delighted to agree this deal with UK Docks, which will see the full complement of dry docks on the Tees brought back into use and with great plans to upgrade the facilities.

“The dry docks at Tees Commerce Park have been a key part of the river economy for many years, back to the days of Smith’s Dock, and play a vital role in servicing and maintaining the many vessels that visit and work on this river.”

Largest, independent, family-owned ship repair company in the country

The expansion consolidates UK Docks’ position as the largest, independent, family-owned ship repair company in the country and represents its second significant investment in Teesside.

Established by the Wilson family on a single slipway in South Shields in 1992, UK Docks expanded to revive boatyard and ship repair sites at Cremyll and Gosport on the south coast and, just over a decade ago, took over the former Smiths Dock Ship Repair Company on the Tees.

After extensive restoration of the dilapidated site, it received its first vessel in 2015 - almost 30 years after Smiths closed.

UK Docks’ original 2014 investment saw the company acquire two dry docks, measuring 137 metres by 18.6 metres (No. 4 Dock) and 167.6 metres by 20.4 metres (No. 3 Dock), as well as a fully equipped repair berth, cranes, workshops, and a storage facility.

The new lease will see two more docks added—one measuring 175.26 metres by 22.25 metres and the other 120 metres by 17.3 metres. The bigger of the two dockyards will allow UK Docks to tender for a broader range of vessels.

In addition, the newly leased yard offers lay-by berths, an extra 200 metres of quay space, extensive fabrication, engineering workshop facilities, and laydown areas.

Four UK Docks workers inside the largest of the dry docks acquired show its scale.

Bright future ahead for workers at dockyards on the Tees

MD Jonathan Wilson said: “UK Docks is giving a massive vote of confidence in the future of marine services in the North East, and we were pleased PD Ports bought into our plans and vision for the site.

“Once again, UK Docks is investing in a national industry which many people regarded as being in terminal decline.

“We’ve shown that’s not the case over the years, and we’re very excited about what we might accomplish on Teesside in the years ahead.

“Already, we’ve taken on extra staff with more to follow.

“We plan to modernise the site, upgrade the facilities, and expand many of the services we already provide next door. Having four docks will allow us to look for new opportunities and expand on our existing services and facilities. 

Soon to be open for business - the two new dry docks on the Tees acquired by UK Docks.

“As well as hoping to attract new customers, nationally and internationally, the new docks will benefit our existing customers because there are times we have to schedule with two docks and having four docks means there will be additional dry dock space for customers when needed.

“We’d like to thank Malcolm Wood of Mincoffs Solicitors for help and support in getting this long-term lease agreed and signed to bring these docks back into use.

“It will make our operation more efficient and enable us to increase our market.

“Teesside is set up for supporting the offshore wind industry and offshore support vessels, dredgers, survey vessels and tankers. We can be a service centre supporting that huge and growing industry all across the North Sea and beyond.”

Royal Navy contracts have also become a major part of UK Docks' business in recent years—the navy’s only icebreaker, HMS Protector, as well as HMS Enterprise and HMS Echo, were previously regular visitors to Teesside.

The new acquisition, with its larger docks and quay space, will also benefit tendering for future contracts.

UK Docks shortlisted for National Family Business of the Year Award

UK DOCKS has been shortlisted for the National Family Business of the Year Award in recognition of the fact that founder Harry Wilson has grown the company through his children and grandchildren.

Harry founded UK Docks on a single slipway on the Tyne in 1992, and went on to build it into a national company operating across the globe and now run by his three sons, Jonathan, Gary, and Chris, who are all directors.

For decades, Harry and his sons worked together to build the business as UK Docks expanded to take on docks and repair yards on Teesside and on the south coast in Hampshire and Cornwall.

They helped to turn an industry that many thought was in terminal decline into one which was not only capable of surviving but thriving.

But in all that time of growth and expansion, the company has worked hard to maintain a family ethos across multiple sites, and that has seen them shortlisted for this year's National Family Business of the Year Awards.

Keeping it in the family: UK Docks' Harry Wilson and sons, l to r Jonathan, Harry, Gary and Chris

Currently, UK Docks is introducing the third generation of the Wilson family to the company, with Harry’s grandsons Lewis, 20, taking up a position as a Service Engineer and Ewan, 18, in his second year as an Apprentice Maintenance Engineering Technician.

Succession planning is now part of the company’s long-term strategy, with Lewis being exposed to national and international travel representing the company for repair contracts and Ewan travelling across the UK Docks sites to gain experience in activities and procedures as part of a management training programme.

Harry said: “This is the start of our attempt to transfer to the third generation our experience of the business’s operating activities which has been gained collectively by ourselves over the years.

“And it’s great for that to be recognised with this nomination for the National Family Business of the year award.

The winner of the 2025 prestigious title will be decided on a presentation night in South Kensington in London in June, which the family plans to attend.

The company is in the North East and Northern Ireland section of the awards and will be considered for both regional and national awards.

Harry, now in his 80s, who retains a role as chairman of the company, was awarded the MBE last year for his services to the British ship repair and marine services industry.

The Wilsons at Windsor Castle on Harry receiving his MBE, from l to r, Chris, Audrey, Harry, Gary and Jonathan

And while UK Docks has won recognition for its achievements over the years, Harry says the Family Award is a special one to be associated with.

He said: “I’m very proud of what the company has achieved over the years but very proud of how the lads have taken it forward too.

”From the very start, we’ve looked to have a family feel about the company - not just among ourselves - but all the staff and management team.”

Jonathan, who is now the managing director of UK Docks, said: “It’s an honour to be shortlisted and to be mentioned among so many great companies.

“UK Docks is now the biggest, family-owned ship repair and marine services company in the country and the family element couldn’t be more important to us.

“To prosper as a company over the long term, you need a close-knit group of people working hard in the same direction, and we’ve always made that one of our priorities.

The finalists will meet in London on June 18 for a Gala Awards Evening at The Royal Geographical Society in South Kensington.

UK Docks Teesside enjoys record-breaking year of service and repair (again)!

STAFF and management at UK Docks’ Teesside facility have celebrated a second record-breaking year for the number of ships serviced and repaired.

More than 40 vessels were successfully worked on in the shipyard’s two dry docks and heavy lift repair quay throughout 2024.

And that beats the previous record-breaking year - 2023 - when more than 30 vessels entered the facility.

UK Docks welcomed the return of UKD Bluefin to its Teesside facility - the dredger, owned by UK Dredging (UKD), was one of dozens of vessels using the dry docks this year.

The continuing success of the docks caps a year of progress for the company.

Managing director Jonathan Wilson, said: “We’re delighted to have had such a productive year, especially off the back of last year, which was also a record-breaking one.

“This is exactly what we hoped for when we first re-opened the docks in 2014 after they’d been derelict for more than two decades.

“What’s pleasing is the variety of vessels we worked on over the last 12 months, as well as the number of them, and that’s testimony to the skills and versatility of the team.”

The last two vessels serviced in 2024 were the Putford Achiever and the Putford Terminator, belonging to Aberdeen-based shipping company North Star, and in total, North Star supplied 10 of the 41 vessels worked on in the Tees docks over the course of the year,

But there were also new customers, like Southampton’s Cemex UK Marine Limited, which brought in the Sand Falcon, a hopper dredger, and oversaw it completing a four-week docking period in May.

Ben Manfield, Cemex marine superintendent, said: “It was a very well-executed first docking, especially given the unfamiliarity with the vessel and unexpected additions to the works.

“All works were completed to a high standard while adhering to the highest levels of safety, which Cemex expects from any of its contractors.” 

Left to right:: Toby Emerson, UK Docks Ship Manager, Ben Manfield, Marine Superintendent Cemex, and Sean Duncan, UK Docks Ship Manager with the Sand Falcon.

Another highlight was Tarmac Marine drydocking dredgers City of London and City of Chichester simultaneously in October.

UK Docks’ Tees shipyard director Stuart Syvret said: “Our growth in 2024 underpins the commitment and ongoing investment to improve the Teesside facility.

“We have two operational drydocks supported by a heavy lift afloat repair berth, fully equipped steel and engineering workshops and two modern 30-tonne Shoreside cranes.

“We also have a highly-skilled project management team, workforce and trusted subcontract supply chain ensuring, whether works are scheduled or unscheduled, we can react and deliver complex engineering activities in both commercial and Ministry of Defence sectors.”

A double docking for Briggs Forth Warrior and MV Cameron - both vessels owned by Briggs Marine - and one of several double dockings carried out in 2024.

The yards on Dockside Road in Teesport Commerce Park now perform a significant role in the Tees Valley supply chain and local economy.

• UK Docks would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers in 2024 for the work supplied to our teams not only on Teesside but on Tyneside and our south coast operations in Cornwall on the River Tamar located opposite Devonport Naval Dockyard and Gosport, opposite Portsmouth Naval Dockyard. We wish them all a happy, safe and prosperous 2025.

UK Docks supports Veterans in Crisis at Christmas

UK DOCKS staff have donated a van full of help to the North East’s Veterans In Crisis, Sunderland (VICS), ahead of Christmas.

Veterans in Crisis founder Ger Fowler leads the unloading flanked by UK Docks’ John Lally, Emma Bryson and Stephen Lee.

The VICS, a community-interest company, has won awards and recognition for helping hundreds of former servicemen and women who have struggled since leaving the Forces.

And Christmas is often the time of year when their services are most needed.

Staff from UK Docks Marine Services in South Shields and their families held a charity collection in the run-up to the festive season.

And a van full of donations, mainly food and toiletries, has now been unloaded, box after box, at the VICs office in Roker Avenue, in Sunderland after six weeks of collections.

Stephen Lee, operations director at UK Docks, said: “What Veterans in Crisis do, led by Ger Fowler, is commendable and nothing short of amazing and we at UK Docks wanted to help them again this year just as we did last year.

“Day-in, day-out, they act as an emergency service for people who have given so much for their country and now need help in return.”

UK Docks, which supplies marine services regionally, nationally and globally, including to the Royal Navy, has built much of its success over the past 30 years on the contributions of former members of the armed forces.

Earlier this year, UK Docks received the Armed Forces Silver Award for its supportive work, to go with the Bronze Award received several years ago.

The UK Docks’ team with Ger Fowler outside the Veterans In Crisis offices in Roker Avenue, Sunderland.

Stephen said: “It’s a cause close to the heart of many of us at UK Docks who have been lucky enough to take the skills we learned in the forces and put them to good use when we’ve returned to civilian life.

“Others haven’t been so fortunate and they need a helping hand, which is what Veterans In Crisis has done so well in recent years.”

Former serviceman Ger Fowler, who founded the organisation in 2017 and recently won the Freedom of the City of Sunderland for his efforts, helped unload the donations alongside Stephen, UK Docks’ office manager Emma Bryson and technical manager John Lally.

Mr Fowler said: “It was great to see the boxes from UK Docks’ filling up our offices - though it was also a reminder of why we are looking to expand our premises in Roker Avenue in 2025!”

“A community interest company like Veterans In Crisis is very reliant on donations of support and the generosity of others.

“It all gets used to help others, and it can make such a difference, I think, especially at this time.

“This year, we plan to supply 150 Christmas dinners, plus a gift, to ex-service people.

“Contributions from local companies help to make that possible, and at Veterans, we always look to use local companies so that money goes back into the community.”

Anyone who would like to support Veterans In Crisis, or needs help, should contact general manager Claire Lawton either by dropping into the centre at 1 Roker Avenue in Sunderland or by calling (0191) 567 1878.