Marine firm finds a berth in North
Oct 4 2007 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal
OFFSHORE and marine group Noble Denton has put more wind in the sails of the region’s resurgent maritime sector by dropping anchor in the North-East.
The company, which has operations spanning the globe, has opened a consultancy office in Seaton Burn, North Tyneside, where it expects to see revenue double in the next year. The branch will initially employ eight people, with this figure expected to rise to around 24 within two years.
The new operation will be headed by general manager David Byrne, former director of Newcastle-based marine consultancy firm Burness Corlett - Three Quays.
Mr Byrne said: “There’s a huge market for what we do here and there’s also an excellent resource base of available labour.
“Newcastle has become an essential hub in the maritime industry and there have been some very interesting additions to the industry in the North-East recently.”
RV Ahilan, European regional managing director of Noble Denton, said: “We were very keen to have a presence in the North-East of England where the marine industry is an area that is burgeoning with the potential to develop a highly successful business offering. After two decades of no new offshore drilling rig construction in the UK, the region is now at the vanguard of the return of the offshore construction industry to Britain with two new rigs due for completion in Teesside in the next few years.”
Noble Denton’s move to the North-East is the latest boost for the region’s maritime sector which has flourished in recent years despite the demise of large-scale shipbuilding.
In March 2006, shipping group Maersk created 140 jobs in the region by relocating its UK headquarters from London’s Canary Wharf to Newcastle’s Quayside.
The region’s reputation as a maritime hub was further bolstered last July by the launch of a £2.3m marine design centre in Newcastle.
The hi-tech facility aims to be a focal point for the region’s top designers and houses space for over 40 designers to use the latest design software.
Newcastle is also home to offices of international tanker owner OSG and Cyprus-based shipping company Hanseatic.
Noble Denton’s Newcastle office is the latest step in the firm’s global expansion drive which has seen it acquire businesses in Norway, Scotland and the United States in the last two months.
The group’s recent acquisitions include Poseidon Maritime, based in Oslo, and Aberdeen-based consultancy firm Lowe Offshore International.
