# McTay Marine

McTay Marine was a shipbuilder in Bromborough, Merseyside from 1974 to 2016.

## History

McTay Engineering had been set up in 1963 by James McBurney and Jim Taylor. McTay Engineering specialised in the construction of storage tanks and associated plant. Taylor and McBurney had, prior to the formation of McTay Engineering been employed by another shipbuilding company, and in 1973 they began to consider the building of small workboats and launches, which led to the formation of the subsidiary McTay Marine Ltd in 1974. The group was acquired by Mowlem in the late 1970s and by Daniel Contractors of Warrington in 2006.
McTay Marine Ltd was founded as a subsidiary of McTay Engineering. Over the following 39 years the company went on to build over 120 vessels. Among them is the building of the first beam trawler in the United Kingdom, which was also the largest built up till that time. The first tug built by the company was the United Kingdom's first "Voith" tug, and the second built was the UK's first "Azimuth" fitted tug to be built. The McTay built tug Trafalgar became the world's most powerful "Voith" tug on its completion and delivery in 1998.
The company went into liquidation in 2015 and the shipyard was taken over by Carmet Marine Ltd.

## Facilities

McTay Marine Limited was involved in the design, build and delivery of specialised ships and workboats since 1974. Located at its 6-acre site at Bromborough on the banks of the River Mersey this longstanding icon in small ship construction built over 120 complex vessels over a period spanning well over thirty-years. The shipyard is now owned by Carmet Marine Ltd.
The shipyard has a build hall and engineering workshop; build hall is 80 metres in length by 25 metres in height with 10.4-metre-high doors opening directly onto the slipway. Engineering shop is 50 metres in length and is directly adjacent. Overhead cranage is available in the form of one 25- and two 5-ton travelling cranes; engineering shop has similar capacities to hand.
The slipway is again fully equipped and has a maximum 300-tonne capacity, and can be used for both vessel repairs and also launch activities.
Mobile cranes, elevating work platforms and forklifts are also available to support both build and repair activities.

## Ships built

Shannon is a harbour and coastal tug, originally built in 1981 as the Eldergarth. The tug is noteworthy as the first British-built Azimuthing Stern Drive tug. Shannon has been acquired by Emu Limited and re-equipped in Southampton with a suite of specialist winches and a stern mounted 'A' frame.
During heavy rain, London's sewage storm pipes overflow into the River Thames, sending dissolved oxygen levels plummeting and threatening the species it supports. Two dedicated McTay vessels, oxygenation barges Thames Bubbler and Thames Vitality are used to replenish oxygen levels, as part of an ongoing battle to clean up the river, which now supports 115 species of fish and hundreds more invertebrates, plants and birds.
The £6.5M contract, to build the superstructure and assemble CRV Leonardo for NATO, safeguarded the jobs of McTay's 60-strong workforce. The Coastal Research Vessel now monitors submarine activity in the Mediterranean.
| Yard No | Name | Date | Type | Owner |
| 1 | Unknown | 1973 | Launch | Timbacraft Ltd. |
| 2 | Quintail | 1973 | Workboat | Tarbert Boatyard |
| 3 | Unknown | 1974 | Survey Launch | Scott Watson |
| 4 | Sterling Steel | 1974 | Yacht | R Talbot-Smith |
| 5 | Sue Anne | 1974 | Workboat | T H Jones |
| 6 | Sharon Vale | 1974 | Fishing Vessel | Geo Moody |
| 7 | Unknown | 1974 | Workboat | Grangemouth Boatmen |
| 10 | Ocean Herald | 1975 | Fishing Vessel Seiner | Vessel ordered from James N. Miller & Sons Ltd, St Monans, where the vessel was completed. Construction of hull subcontracted to McTay Marine. |
| 11 | Fisher Rose | 1976 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | Completed by James N. Miller & Sons Ltd., St Monans. |
| 12 | Adelphi | 1976 | Fishing Vessel Seiner | Completed by James N. Miller & Sons Ltd., St Monans. Foundered 26 October 2006 when on guard vessel duties 160 mile East of Aberdeen. |
| 19 | Catriona of Kishorn | 1976 | Crew Boat, now Ferry | Howard Doris Ltd., Glasgow, now Rose of Aran with Doolin Ferry Co. Ltd., Galway |
| 20 | Shonag of Kishorn | 1976 | Crew Boat | Howard Doris Ltd., Glasgow, now Queen of Aran |
| 22 | Solbrun | 1979 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | 1982 Hradfrystihus Stoduarfjordur, Stoduafjordur, now Frosti |
| 24 | Sine of Kishorn | 1976 | Crew Boat | Howard Doris Ltd., Glasgow, now St. Bridget |
| 25 | Mersey Trader | 1977 | Coaster | Alexandra Towing Co. Ltd., Liverpool, now Medway Trader |
| 29 | Girl Pat III | 1978 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | 1985 T. Thomas & others, Penzance, now Georg Lou N. |
| 30 | Lothian Rose II | 1978 | Fishing Vessel Seiner / Trawler | Robert & Linus Clark, Musselburgh. Completed by James N. Miller & Sons Ltd, St Monans |
| 31 | Ben Loyal | 1979 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | 1982 Peray S.A., Casablanca, now Atlassy Yasmine |
| 32 | Ben Roy | 1979 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | 1983 K/S Ben Hav, Floro. Scrapped in 2002. |
| 33 | Glenugie IV | 1980 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | Donald Anderson & Caley Fisheries (Partnerships) Ltd, Peterhead. Foundered 24 February 1999 100 miles East of Shetland. |
| 36 | Harvest Venture | 1980 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | 1983 Alf Snorre Isaksen, Tromso. Scrapped in 2008. |
| 37 | Sea Harvester | 1980 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | 1983 Orjan Carlsson, Donso, Sweden, now Astrid Ann |
| 38 | Canada | 1980 | Tug | Alexandra Towing Company Ltd., Liverpool Later SMIT Canada, now Wellington |
| 39 | Traveller III | 1981 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | William B. Reid & others, Fraserburgh, Foundered, while fishing on 23 March 2000, 16 miles NNE of Shetland. |
| 40 | Eldergarth | 1981 | ASD Firefighting Tug | Rea Towing Co. Ltd., Westport, later with Svitzer as Shannon, now Safe Supporter 1 |
| 41 | Rowangarth | 1981 | ASD Firefighting Tug | Rea Towing Co. Ltd., Westport, later with Svitzer |
| 43 | Sun Thames | 1982 | Firefighting Tug | Alexandra Towing Company (London) Ltd. Later Svitzer Sword, now BSV Anglia |
| 44 | MDB | 1982 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | 1985 Ronald, David & Derek Bond, Fleetwood |
| 45 | MV Hendra | 1982 | 33m ro-ro Ferry | Shetland Islands Council Ferries |
| 46 | Bon Marin de Serk | 1983 | Ferry | Isle of Sark Shipping Co. |
| 47 | Seal Carr | 1983 | Firefighting Tug | Forth Estuary Towage Ltd., Leith |
| 48 | Beamer | 1983 | Tug | Forth Estuary Towage Ltd., Leith |
| 49 | Stirling Elf | 1983 | Offshore Supply Vessel | Stirling Shipping Co. Ltd. Scrapped in 2016. |
| 52 | Deft | 1984 | Voith Firefighting Tug | Dover Harbour Board, now HT Scimitar |
| 53 | Dextrous | 1984 | Voith Firefighting Tug | Dover Harbour Board, now HT Cutlass |
| 54 | Bramley Moore | 1984 | Firefighting Tug | Later Smit Liverpool, now Jersey Shore |
| 55 | Oakgarth | 1984 | Firefighting Tug | Cory Ship Towage Ltd., Liverpool, now Mentor |
| 56 | Yewgarth | 1985 | Firefighting Tug | Cory Ship Towage Ltd., Liverpool, now BSV Irlanda |
| 57 | Hamtun | 1985 | Tractor Tug | Red Funnel Group, Southampton. Since 2006 operated by Multraship Towage & Salvage in the Netherlands under the name Multratug 16 |
| 58 | Sir Bevois | 1985 | Tug | Red Funnel Group, Southampton. Later Svitzer Bevois, now Tug Beaver |
| 59 | Sun Anglia | 1985 | Firefighting Tug | Alexandra Towing Company Ltd., London, now Svitzer Anglia |
| 60 | Meridian | 1985 | Survey Vessel | Government of Trinidad & Tobago |
| ? | Tarv | 1986 | Naval Tender | Royal Navy |
| ? | Ohm's Law | 1986 | Naval Tender | Royal Navy |
| ? | Cormorant | 1986 | Naval Tender | Royal Navy |
| 65 | L-713 | 1986 | Naval Landing Craft | Royal Navy |
| 66 | L-714 | 1986 | Naval Landing Craft | Royal Navy |
| 67 | L-715 | 1986 | Naval Landing Craft | Royal Navy |
| 68 | Point Halifax | 1986 | ASD Tug | now Leonard M owned by McKeil Marine Ltd. https://mckeil.com/our-fleet/leonard-m |
| 69 | Shabwah | 1987 | Tug | Yemen Ports and Shipping Corporation, Aden |
| 70 | Almahrah | 1987 | Tug | Yemen Ports and Shipping Corporation, Aden |
| 75 | Cathy M | 1986 | Ferry | James Molinary Ltd, Gibraltar |
| 77 | Waterloo | 1987 | Tug | Alexandra Towing Co Ltd, Liverpool |
| 78 | Dorothy Gray | 1988 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | Terence Taylor, Aberdeen. Scrapped in 2003. |
| 79 | Thames Bubbler II | 1988 | Oxygenation Barge | Thames Water Utilities |
| 80 | Livinea | 1989 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | Bankstar Ltd., Buckie. Scrapped in 2008. |
| 81 | Seafalke | 1988 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | Seafalke Shipping Co. Ltd., Newhaven, now Jacoba |
| 82 | Moorhen | 1989 | Naval Mooring Vessel | Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service |
| 83 | Moorfowl | 1989 | Naval Mooring Vessel | Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service |
| 84 | Chartwell | 1989 | Survey Vessel | Osiris Hydrographic |
| 85 | Einar | 1989 | Firefighting Tug | Orkney Towage Co. Ltd., Kirkwall |
| 86 | Erlend | 1990 | Tug | Orkney Towage Co. Ltd., Kirkwall |
| 87 | MV Earl Sigurd | 1990 | 45m ro-ro Ferry | Orkney Ferries |
| 88 | MV Earl Thorfinn | 1990 | 45m ro-ro Ferry | Orkney Ferries |
| 89 | Sun Mercia | 1990 | Firefighting Tug | Alexandra Towing Company (London) Ltd. Later Svitzer Mercia, now Mercia. |
| 90 | Lady Anya | 1990 | Tug | Humber Tugs Ltd., Grimsby, later Svitzer Laceby, now BSV Franta |
| 91 | Lady Kathleen | 1991 | Tug | Humber Tugs Ltd., Grimsby, now Svitzer Kathleen |
| 92 | Lady Sarah | 1991 | Tug | Humber Tugs Ltd., Grimsby, now Svitzer Sarah |
| 93 | Lady Cecilia | 1991 | Tug | Humber Tugs Ltd., Grimsby, now Svitzer Cecilia |
| 94 | Lady Josephine | 1991 | Tug | Humber Tugs Ltd., Grimsby, now Svitzer Josephine |
| 95 | Cluain Tarbh | 1992 | Firefighting Tug | Dublin Port & Docks Board |
| ? | Oileain Arann | 1992 | ro-ro Ferry | Order obtained by Miller's, St Monans at yard 1047. Vessel construction subcontracted to McTay Marine Ltd, where the vessel was built and completed. |
| 100 | Oil Bonny | 1993 | Tug | O.I.L. Marine Ltd., later Tidewater Marine |
| 101 | Oil Benin | 1993 | Tug | O.I.L. Marine Ltd., later Tidewater Marine |
| 102 | Oil Benue | 1993 | Tug | O.I.L. Marine Ltd., later Tidewater Marine |
| ? | Oil Razee | 1993 | Tug | O.I.L. Marine Ltd., later Svitzer |
| 113 | AL 50 | 1994 | Naval Patrol Boat | Greek Navy |
| 114 | Sayyaf | 1994 | Firefighting Tug | Abu Dhabi Petroleum Ports Operating Co. |
| 115 | Fidra | 1995 | Firefighting Tug | Forth Ports PLC, Leith |
| 116 | MV Loch Bhrusda | 1996 | 35m ro-ro Ferry | Caledonian MacBrayne |
| 117 | Lyndhurst | 1996 | Firefighting Tug | Howard Smith Towage Ltd., Southampton, now Svitzer Lyndhurst |
| 118 | Lady Alma | 1996 | Tug | Howard Smith (Humber) Ltd. now Svitzer Alma [Svitzer Marine] |
| 119 | Trafalgar | 1998 | Firefighting Tug | Howard Smith Towage Ltd., Liverpool. Later Smit Trafalgar, now Sky 501 |
| 120 | Thames Vitality | 1997 | Oxygenation Barge | Thames Water Utilities |
| 121 | MV Eilean Dhiura | 1998 | ro-ro Ferry | Argyll and Bute Council |
| 122 | Marigold | 1998 | Fishing Vessel Trawler | Hull by MC Fabrications, Falmouth, completed by McTay Marine. |
| 123 | Oban | 2000 | Naval Tender | Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service |
| 124 | Oronsay | 2000 | Naval Tender | Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service |
| 125 | Omagh | 2000 | Naval Tender | Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service |
| 127 | MV Portaferry II | 2001 | ro-ro Ferry | Strangford Lough ferry |
| 128 | Leonardo | 2002 | 30m Coastal Research Vessel | NATO |
| 129 | MV Loch Portain | 2003 | 50m ro-ro Ferry | Caledonian MacBrayne |
| 130 | Vital | 2013 | Multi-Role Vessel | Carmet TUG Company |