WATCH: Proud moment for isles boat builders at Vaila Marie launch
Adam GuestBoat building expertise took centre stage on Wednesday – with the launch of a salmon workboat made by Malakoff.
The 14-metre Cooke Aquaculture steel catamaran Vaila Marie has been built to work out on the West Side.
A sister vessel is under construction and due to come into service in about six months.
Both are the result of Malakoff’s boat building centre in Lerwick.
Cooke Aquaculture regional manager David Brown was on hand to cut the ribbon, ably supported by his daughter, who inspired the name of the vessel.
With a smashing of champagne and a cheer from the crowd, the vessel made its way down the slipway.
Mr Brown said the seven-metre wide boat would be working on salmon farms in Walls and Aith.
She also carries a 23.5-tonne crane.
“We’ve been thinking about this [vessel] for about a year, that would include the design and the construction phase,” he said.
“There’s a sister ship to this one being built at the moment which hopefully will be launched in about six months’ time.”
Mr Brown hailed the work of the Malakoff team for “a good, very strong boat”.
• More in Friday’s Shetland Times
Davie Sandison
Brilliant to see this company making such a commitment to Shetland – and particularly our more remote areas. The kind of investments they are making in Shetland are much more significant than any multi million pound deals that make the headlines. Well done Cooke Aquaculture Scotland and and the team at Malakoff who have done a great job for the company – here’s to many more successful collaborations!
Les Sinclair
Couldn’t agree more with Davie’s comment, particularly in relation to Malakoff. Indigenous companies such as Malakoff and Ocean Kinetics showing forethought and innovation will help to ensure that Shetland’s Fabrication and Engineering sector survive into the future, and will not wither away as a result of directors and managers sitting back relying on past performance and customer loyalty, especially when that is based on a rapidly reducing sector.