MARKETING
DEVELOPMENT
Commercial
(formerly Kingston Marine Services)
Commercial Marine Services Report
Cowes Harbour Services has a multi-disciplinary team that works afl oat on commercial marine and coastal projects
on the Medina and around the Solent. Based at the Kingston Wharf site, the team specialises in the design, supply
and positioning of complete mooring systems, plus navigation and race mark buoy management. They take care of
pontoon maintenance, local towage, stores logistics, escort duties, transportation and berth repair. The team has two
working vessels Seaclear and Seamark, as well as storage and workshop facilities for engineering, welding and
painting.
Cowes Harbour Services also provides a valuable emergency response capability for the harbour and River Medina.
A large number of vessels operate within CHC’s statutory area of jurisdiction and therefore the possibility of an
emergency arising is always a risk. Cowes Harbour Services staff are all trained in pollution response and with CHC’s
pollution specifi c equipment and plant can respond to an emergency within a short space of time.
2017-2018 was a challenging year for the commercial team. The current economic climate has resulted in a drop in
boat numbers, and this, added to the increasing preference for marina berths has unfortunately meant the requirement
for swinging and pile moorings both within Cowes and other harbours around the Solent has reduced over the last
few years. This has translated into a drop in work for servicing and laying mooring for the commercial team. During
the last year, the commercial team serviced all of CHC’s moorings, along with the SCRA (Solent Cruising and Racing
Association) and Victory race marks. Some other smaller contracts have also been carried out at various harbours
around the Island. At the same time Cowes Harbour Services has successfully managed to secure and continue some
long-term contracts for moorings services around the Solent.
Competition for other commercial work in the Solent has also been very tight. Long-standing relationships with various
clients have allowed Cowes Harbour Services to pick up various jobs throughout the winter period. Red Funnel, MMC
Diving Services, Wight Shipyard, South Boats and Red Ensign are all good examples of clients Cowes Harbour
Services works with on a regular basis to carry out a wide range of commercial services. The sustainable relationships
Cowes Harbour Services has with these clients is essential to enabling CHC to continue to offer a commercial services
division.
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