Cornwall’s Penzance Dry Dock, UK, has been awarded more than £2 million as part of an almost £4 million rejuvenation project.
The grant is from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, awarded by Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Team and follows a competitive process.
The funding will upgrade the facility to current industry standards, transforming it from a ship repair facility into one that will also build ships.
In addition, the site will undergo a complete refit while remaining operational.
The grant will enable Penzance Dry Dock to also invest in new equipment, more training and recruitment, developing the Penzance Dry Dock Skills Academy.
In a statement, a spokesperson from Penzance Dry Dock said the transformation comes at a crucial time.
“It supports the national shipbuilding strategy, aids in building and maintaining floating offshore wind farm fleets and helps recreate the industrial hub that Penzance once was,” said the statement.
“This investment will safeguard the facilities’ future by enabling the facility to diversify further by supporting more elements of the maritime sector.”
Jamie Murphy, CEO Penzance Dry Dock
“This funding package will safeguard all existing jobs as well as creating many new ones.”
The refit will include a raft of improvements such as overhauled gates, a new pumping system, an improved tidal berth with a jib crane and two assembly bays with two gantry cranes per bay.
Other improvements will consist of a new Goliath crane over the dock and a new carpenter’s workshop.
“All I can say is a massive thank you to everyone that had supported us for nearly three years since I took over the site, making this news public today, makes the waiting and the struggles worth it,” said Jamie Murphy, Penzance Dry Dock CEO.
“This facility is about to change drastically, with updated workshops enabling us to build a ship in sections while continuing the day-to-day business in the dry dock next door.
“This investment will safeguard the facilities’ future by enabling the facility to diversify further by supporting more elements of the maritime sector.”
He added: “The refit has already begun, and the Dry Dock gates repair is well underway. We look forward to being back in business soon, investing more in staff and our training scheme and offering more services than ever before.”
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda providing £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.
