MARINE TEAM TO CARRY OUT GRANT-FUNDED ENGINE REPOWERS THIS WINTER
This winter Mylor’s Marine Team will be carrying out a number of re-powering jobs on fishing boats from various ports across Cornwall. The projects are funded under the European Fisheries Fund: Axis 1 initiative, which is available to help fishermen in England make improvements to their vessels and protect their livelihoods.
The latest successful applicant, static gear fisherman Martin Gilbert of Newquay’s Galcadora will be making the journey around Land’s End in early February to haul out. Following the removal of its old diesel and a proper clean of her engine bay, a brand new Perkins M130 six-cylinder will be dropped onto her beds and connected up. The new engine should give Galcadora much better fuel efficiency and will certainly reduce Martin’s servicing costs, as well as giving him the peace of mind that the new reliable engine will keep Galcadora fishing day in, day out.
This winter the marine services division at Mylor Yacht Harbour, Marine Team, in Falmouth, Cornwall will be carrying out a number of repowering jobs on fishing boats from various ports across Cornwall. With a strong historical connection to the fishing community developing out of the Terry Percival’s Marine-Trak days, and a wealth of experience and expertise in marine power, the Marine Team engineering department is well placed to offer a swift and efficient service. They also have the benefit of the greater part of the old Cygnus Marine workforce in the GRP and shipwright departments to support the engineers on fitting the new units into the boats.
Three other Newquay skippers and others from Newlyn, Penryn, Mevagissey and Port Isaac have applications in place for engines ranging from 20hp to 300hp, hopefully all will be approved in the coming weeks, with the installations all due to take place over January, February and March.
Each of the skippers involved are attempting to fund the projects through the EFF Axis 1 funding scheme, which the Marine Management Organisation has recently announced as being extended until 30 June 2014. Help and support to access the funding is offered by the Cornish Rural Communities Council, a Cornish charity set up to help communities in Cornwall achieve their aspirations and develop sustainably.
They have a dedicated team assisting farming and fishing communities improve their infrastructure, equipment and facilities, guiding a great many fishermen through the difficult and time-consuming application process. Chris Ranford, working from Newlyn-based Seafood Cornwall Training, deals not only with larger community-based FLAG applications, but also with the Axis 1 grants and has a wealth of experience of the process and paperwork involved.
His support has been vital for a lot of fishermen hoping to take advantage of some of the funding streams available, not just for engines but also for safety equipment and improvements to their boats to improve crew comfort. The MMO have confirmed that the EFF funding deadline has been extended until 30 June 2014, and there will also definitely be further funding available with a new scheme due to start in 2014/2015.
Photo: From left to right – Nathan Percival Marine Team Head of Engineering, Martin Gilbert Newquay Skipper, Henry Goldsmith Marine Team Project Manager