Mainstay Marine seeks permission for temporary shipbuilding structure in Pembroke Dock

A Pembrokeshire marine engineering company wants to site a temporary structure to allow the building of a ship in plans submitted to the County Council.

Mainstay Marine Solutions has applied through Mosaic Town Planning for permission to put up the temporary structure at its Dockyard site in Pembroke Dock for five years.

The site has four industrial storage buildings, with the rest used as a yard and car park. The proposed building would stand on an area currently used to store boats.

Mainstay’s supporting statement says the company “build, repair and maintain commercial vessels, marine structures and specialist engineering projects for clients who require bespoke solutions”.

Mainstay employs 50 full-time staff and hopes the proposal will increase that number to 75.

“The company has identified a clear and urgent need for additional temporary undercover space to facilitate the build of a new vessel. Permission is sought for a five-year period.”

The structure would use four 40-foot containers on the east side and three 40-foot containers plus one 20-foot container on the west. A single-arch steel roof would be welded to them, with steel-panel end walls.

The statement says the site has four industrial storage buildings, including modern steel-clad structures, as well as a Grade II-listed building now used as offices.

The 1858 Dockyard Map marked the listed building as an oakum store. Oakum was rope fibre used to seal timber ships, and the building later served as a Royal Navy office before Mainstay turned it into offices.

Of the scheme it adds: “The proposal will support the continued operation and long-term growth of Mainstay Marine Ltd through providing a much-needed undercover space to facilitate the build of a new vessel along with additional storage space.”

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County planners will consider the application at a later date.