THE CABINET SECRETARY for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, announced the names of the new Welsh Government fisheries protection vessels.
The Cabinet Secretary visited Mainstay Marine Solutions at Pembroke Dock on Monday (Jan 22) to see the building work currently underway on two of the new vessels built and manufactured in Wales.
The company is delivering high quality boat manufacturing products through a highly committed and locally skilled Pembrokeshire workforce.
During the visit, the Cabinet Secretary also unveiled the new Welsh Government Marine enforcement ensign, which in collaboration with the Garter Principal King of Arms has been designed and manufactured at Welsh social enterprise company, Red Dragon flag-makers in Swansea.
The Cabinet Secretary announced two larger patrol vessels, built by Mainstay Marine Solutions, will be named the FPV Rhodri Morgan and the FPV Lady Megan, with two smaller enforcement RIB’s named the FPV Gwenllian and the FPV Siwan.
A Cabin RIB patrol vessel, built by MST Ltd which is very close to completion, will be named FPV Catrin. The FPV Catrin will undertake sea trials later this month and will be expected to be in operational service early this year.
The FPV Rhodri Morgan and FPV Lady Megan are expected to be in operational service by late autumn this year.
The new vessels will replace the current ageing boats, to effectively protect from illegal fishing activity in Welsh waters and safeguard Wales’ fishing industry and coastal communities in the years ahead.
Lesley Griffiths said: “Our new patrol vessels will ensure we can continue to effectively enforce fisheries and marine laws around the seas of Wales and help ensure we meet our commitment to manage our fish stocks sustainably. They will also help safeguard Wales’ fishing industry and our coastal communities in the years ahead.
“I am delighted to announce the names of the new vessels and to see first-hand the considerable progress that Mainstay Marine has achieved in building two of our new Fisheries Patrol Vessels for Wales.”
Stewart Graves, Managing Director of Mainstay Marine Solutions, said: “We are delighted with the progress of the builds so far. Our design, build and project management teams are enthusiastically engaged in ensuring we deliver a high-quality Welsh product on time and in budget.”
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