PORTS of Jersey’s plans to continue expanding the profitability of its Marine Services fleet will likely include buying more vessels over the next few years, according to the Harbourmaster.
Captain Bill Sadler said the States-owned entity’s “growing” Marine Services business, which engages in both local and global infrastructure projects, was becoming increasingly recognised within the industry.
It comprises three Damen Shoalbuster workboats – Duke, Duchess and Elisa – as well as two multipurpose vessels – Viking Energy and Severn Supporter – and two barges.
The fleet was also previously served by Duke of Normandy, but a commercial agreement for the workboat to be chartered for two years and sold was announced in June 2025.
Captain Sadler said that the Marine Services business was expected to generate around £3.5 million in profit this year.
He said that plans to continue bolstering its performance would “probably” involve adding “a couple of vessels over the next one to five years”.
“I think out in the industry, people know who we are now,” Captain Sadler noted.
“Very much the plan is over the next five years to continue growing the business, to keep on growing the income and the profitability – but with a mind that ultimately that money contributes to Ports of Jersey’s overall ability to invest back into Jersey.”
Some of the recent work being carried out by vessels in the Marine Services fleet includes an offshore wind farm project in Poland, capital dredging in Shetland as well as beach stabilisation in Brighton.
“If you look back at the history of Marine Services, it all started with just one single vessel and the way we started was just using that vessel to offset the cost of owning it,” Captain Sadler said.
“Then of course as we added Duchess, then Elisa, then Viking Energy, then Severn Supporter, then Duke, each of those vessels has added capacity and that capacity has added profitability.
“Each year it has grown and the plan is to keep on growing at the same kind of rate.”
