Established in 2010, CTruk designs and builds composite offshore wind farm support vessels using the resin infusion process. It has also built a proof-of-concept military vessel.
CTruk recently signed the lease on a 6400 m2 site on the Colne Estuary, a few miles upriver from its current base in Brightlingsea. The company plans to use the new Fieldgates site to build the larger vessels required for offshore wind farm projects further out to sea. It is planning to move some production activity over early next year.
The company has also applied for a grant through Round 6 of Regional Growth Fund (RGF) to build a new production facility, offices and training centre on the Fieldgates site. This 'Advanced Composite Technology Centre' could create more than 120 new jobs over the next 5 years.
If the new centre goes ahead, the existing Brightlingsea site will become CTruk's vessel delivery, maintenance and warranty base.
Diversification
“CTruk has driven innovation in offshore wind vessel design since its inception, and we intend to continue to apply our unique approach to design and build with the larger accommodation vessels required for the challenging sea conditions further offshore," says CTruk chairman Peter McIntosh.
"This requirement is the main driver for our planned expansion, but the technology centre, with its in-house training facility, would also see us well placed to diversify into other commercial marine sectors, set up overseas agreements and also apply our composites expertise to non-marine manufacturing opportunities.”
CTruk expects a decision on grant funding support in early 2015.
