Parkol Marine Engineering responded to the upswing in orders for its fishing vessels by establishing a new facility to handle the additional activity, and the Middlesbrough yard has now delivered its first newbuild.
Scalloper Atlantic Dawn has been built at Parkol for James Monaghan of Islay Crab Exports based on the Scottish Isle of Islay and was delivered with a traditional maritime naming ceremony during which the new vessel was blessed and then named by James’s daughter Kayleigh.
Atlantic Dawn has an overall length of 20.50 metres and a moulded breadth of 7.40 metres with a moulded depth of 4.05 metres. It has fuel capacity for 20,000 litres of fuel in three tanks and a 4000 litre fresh water capacity. Its fishroom has capacity for six hundred 38kg bags and there is an ice locker capable of holding three tonnes of ice.
Following the celebration at the Parkol yard in Middlesbrough, Atlantic Dawn is due to undergo sea trials before starting on scallops in the English Channel, joining the rest of the company fleet operating in the Irish Sea after Christmas.
In ordering Atlantic Dawn, James Monaghan was looking to add a new, larger boat to his existing fleet that would be able to cope well with the seas and weather that can batter the Scottish islands and coastline.
He has been so impressed with Parkol’s service that he said he wouldn’t bother looking elsewhere should he require another boat in the future.
‘Absolutely everything was A1, I couldn’t have asked for more,’ he said.
‘The workmanship was fantastic, it’s the best I’ve ever experienced. They are a family-run business and the personal touch was evident every step of the way. The yard is an incredible place, the facilities are just amazing. I’m not planning on building another new boat anytime soon but if I was, Parkol would be my first and only choice.’
‘Fuel efficiency is very important to us as she’s working 24/7 and landing every five or six days. She has a top speed of around 12 knots and we’re confident she will perform brilliantly at sea.’
Increased capacity
The Whitby-based Parkol Marine Engineering goes back to 1971 and opened the new yard at Middlesbrough in October 2017, with the aim of increasing capacity for building larger boats and satisfy the growing demand for new bespoke fishing vessels.
Atlantic Dawn is the first project to be completed at the new fabrication facility, which boasts the capability for keel to mast construction and fit-out entirely under cover – a rarity in the UK.
‘This is the first time we’ve worked with James and we were thrilled to win the order,’ said Parkol director and project manager Sally Atkinson.
‘It was a pleasure to build the Atlantic Dawn and we were really pleased to be able to complete it two-and-a-half months ahead of schedule.’
Parkol’s expansion is an important new chapter in the life of the company. The Middlesbrough fabrication hall measures 70 metres by 35 metres by 40m high, with four boat-building berths that can accommodate new builds up to 40 metres long and 10 metre beam.
There are also three 20-tonne overhead gantry cranes which provide excellent flexibility with regards to vessel sub-assemblies. Vessels can be built fully undercover up to mast level, fully out-fitted, shot-blasted and painted in the hall ready for load-out and sail away.
‘The new yard is already proving a massive asset to the business, the order book is healthy and we’re looking forward to constructing more vessels there in 2019,’ she added.
