Strategic's UK push into repair and maintenance

Strategic Marine has entered a sales and service agreement with the United Kingdom’s Testbank Ship Repair.

Under the partnership, Strategic and Testbank will work together to provide marine, ship repair and through-life support services for the offshore wind energy sector.

Strategic recently signed contracts with Njord Offshore to construct eight 20 metre wind farm crew transfer vessels, which will be the Perth-based shipbuilder’s first deliveries to the UK wind energy market.

“Through our relationship with Testbank, we are demonstrating our commitment to the European offshore wind market, enabling us to add value to the vessels that we deliver into the region, by providing clients with turnkey shipbuilding, planned maintenance and ship repair services,” Strategic’s chief marketing officer Terry O’Connor said.

Testbank has facilities in Avonmouth, Portchester, Portsmouth and Southampton in the UK, with another US-based facility in Florida operated by sister company, Green Cove Springs.

"Testbank, in partnership with Strategic Marine, will be in a very strong position to provide ship owners and operators with the security of local support and planned maintenance, which will facilitate them in mitigating the costly risks associated with vessel downtimes," Testbank technical manager Brian Needle said.