PENZANCE Dry Dock is on course to regain its reputation as an engineering powerhouse thanks to a £2-m investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme towards a £4-m refurbishment.

The dock is steeped in history and is the oldest operational tidal dry dock in Europe, established in 1834. For 92 years it operated under the renowned name of N. Holman & Sons. After facing closure in late 2020, it was acquired in 2021 by former Royal Navy marine engineer Jamie Murphy, 32, who set about rejuvenating the business.

Jamie, whose grandfather worked at Penzance Dry Dock for 45 years, aims to transform the facility from a ship repair business to one that also builds ships, while training the next generation of skilled marine engineers.

To that end the business is proud to have launched the first apprenticeship scheme at the dock in over 25 years, and it is expecting to almost double the 17-strong workforce in the short term, with ambitions to employ more than 100 people in the years to come.

Jamie said: “I've always been exposed to the industry – my father was an engineer, and his father before him. In fact our current foreman was my grandfather's apprentice, so there's a strong family link to the business and I've always seen its huge potential.

“The Good Growth funding has been vital in enabling major capital investment right across the site which is going to be transformational for Penzance Dry Dock. The more diverse and agile the facility is, the more we can deliver in the markets we want to be in, and I think we could easily employ more than 100 people. We want to attract more employment to the area while protecting the future of our industry here in West Cornwall.”

The ongoing investment at Penzance Dry Dock, which is due to be completed next year, is already paying off with the dock recently welcoming its first Ministry of Defence contract in 28 years.

And the business is eyeing other opportunities including the enormous marine engineering requirements of building and maintaining the floating offshore windfarms planned for the Celtic Sea, such as the repair, maintenance and construction of vessels, pontoons and barges.

This month will see a new intake of apprentices join the business, and in January the dry dock will welcome the Scillonian III passenger ferry for its annual refit.

Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for economy, said: “This significant investment in Penzance Dry Dock is a perfect example of how the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme is supporting projects that deliver real, tangible benefits for our local economy and communities. Not only is it reclaiming its historic reputation as a centre of engineering excellence, but it’s also securing its future with modern facilities, apprenticeship opportunities, and ambitions to grow the workforce significantly.

“The dock’s transformation will create high-quality jobs, develop crucial skills, and position West Cornwall as a leader in marine engineering – a sector critical to the region’s prosperity, particularly with the emerging opportunities in offshore wind. It’s fantastic to see such an iconic site thrive once more and contribute to the long-term growth of Cornwall’s economy.”

Penzance Dry Dock is undergoing a complete refit while remaining operational. Work includes the overhaul of the dry dock gates, which is already completed, and a new pumping system that can empty the dry dock of 4,500 cubic metres of water in just an hour instead of the six it used to take.

There will be seven new cranes, including five gantry cranes inside, plus a 10-tonne jib crane outside and a 50-tonne Goliath crane rising 20m over the dry dock, transforming its capabilities.

The carpenter’s workshop is being replaced with a brand-new building with new staff toilets and showers, and a new ‘clean room’ for conducting engine and gearbox overhauls. There will be new concrete floors across the entire site, with 130 piles to improve ground conditions. The workshops will become fully enclosed to reduce noise and the machine shop is being completely overhauled with new CNC profiling machines.

Upgraded offices will include a large project office, CAD drawing office, apprenticeship suite and new heating, drainage and double glazing.

To find out more, visit: ciosgoodgrowth.com