New salmon deal help marine firm expand

Siri Elise Dybdal

Inverlussa Marine Services said it had also invested more than £3million in two new workboats in the past year to keep up with new contract wins.

The company recently sealed a multimillion pound seven year contract to service the Meridian Salmon Group's Orkney and Shetland fish farm sites, creating five new jobs. The latest expansion at Inverlussa Marine Services means the firm now employs 27 people and has almost doubled its workforce in a year, during one of the worst recessions on record. This contract is the latest in a steady flow of work, from different marine sectors, which has seen Inverlussa rewarded for having the confidence to invest in its fleet of workboats.

Ben Wilson, Operations Director for Inverlussa Marine Services, said: "None of this would have been possible without the hard work and commitment of our excellent workforce. This also shows the importance of the fish farming sector in the West Coast."

In line with its investment, Inverlussa's turnover in the last year has doubled, with the Inverlussa fleet being tasked to help with everything from renewable energy projects, to fish farm servicing and marine haulage work. Inverlussa Marine Services evolved from parent company Inverlussa Shellfish Co. Ltd, which was started over 30 years ago as a diversification from the original fishing business.

"The new boat has created five new jobs - four crew, plus a shore based manager. The seven-year contract we have signed with the Meridian Salmon Group, with options to extend, is a huge achievement for our hardworking staff."