Merger Creates UK's Largest Independent Ship Repairer

Burgess Marine acquire Testbank Ship Repair, making them the country's largest independent in the ship repair business.

Burgess Marine, headquartered in Dover and with sites in Poole and Portsmouth’s naval base, has acquired Testbank Ship Repair, with locations at Southampton docks, Portchester, near Portsmouth, and Avonmouth, near Bristol.

The deal will see 120 full-time staff work under the Burgess Marine banner from the six sites, with a combined annual turnover of £20m-plus.

Nick Warren, Managing Director, Burgess Marine, said: “The various work streams of both companies very much complement each other, so it made compelling business logic for family-owned Testbank to join forces with us to create the largest independent ship repairer in the UK by both geographical location and the fact that we are not tied to any one particular yard or facility.

“Whilst this is an acquisition on paper, both parties view this as very much a friendly merger rather than anything else. “It is one that will benefit our customers across the UK and internationally from economies of scale, as well as providing job security and prospects for our 120 highly skilled and dedicated employees and over 200 sub-contractors."