Investment the key to East Kent marine industry success
Traditionally coastal areas such as Southampton have dominated the marine scene, but more and more marine businesses in east Kent are taking advantage of the area’s wealth of existing and upcoming opportunities.
The East Kent Marine Project’s objective is to encourage east Kent to capitalise on these opportunities, by leading business projects designed to encourage joined-up thinking between local marine companies.
Marine South East and East Kent Marine Partnership project manager, Richard Barron, is passionate about how to drive this forward: ‘‘we need to create a community of marine businesses able to support each other in the process of producing competitive services to an international market. ‘By raising the profile of the marine industry in east Kent, we can not only attract inward investment but also ensure that we get the support we need to take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to us.’
So what exactly does Kent have to offer? For a start, providing first class services and products to the international market requires a highly developed infrastructure. Kent’s international airport deals with over 50,000 tonnes of freight a year and its Channel Tunnel rail link constitutes the fastest route to the continent.
Dover Port, the leading ferry terminal in the UK, deals with a vast range of goods and services every year, and busy harbours and marinas in Ramsgate, Dover and Folkestone service fishermen and international yachtsman alike, forming a huge part of coastal life.
The East Kent Partnership is supporting this budding area of business. The area is already seeing a growing network for marine businesses, from services ranging from leisure marine, commercial and offshore marine equipment, ports and shipping, marine services and contracting, ship building and repair, trade associations, research, education and training.
With growing confidence in the sector, there has been significant investment already in projects such as the Dover Western Docks Development. This development will cater for the predicted increase in traffic going to and from Europe.
The Dover Harbour Board’s 30 year plan and £420m of investment will see new ferry berths develop the current dock. In addition to this literal expansion, the project is making provision for a new sports centre and a new marina, which will impact on local marine companies by presenting all kinds of opportunities for new and existing businesses. Investment in east Kent’s development, as well as future projects in trade and commerce, is also attracting further business.
Larger scale projects such as the London Array wind farm, which involves almost £2b of investment into the building and development of 270 turbines over 152 square miles offshore in the Greater Thames Estuary, is already presenting opportunities due to its proximity to nearby ports for construction, operation and maintenance.
With the right support, East Kent has great potential for attracting huge inward investment. The area has a wealth of assets, including location to mainland Europe, proximity to the capital, growing infrastructure, and quality of living for the industry’s employees. The area undeniably has real potential for businesses to tap into. With confidence growing, projects like the East Kent Marine project are leading the way for the future.
For further information contact Riachard barron by emailing richard@marinesoutheast.co.uk
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