Clyde Blowers secures 73 Highland jobs with MacKellar Sub-Sea deal

The business and assets of Grantown-on-Spey-based MacKellar Sub-Sea Limited and its related company, Tritech Nairn Limited, have been sold to Ferguson Marine Engineering, a subsidiary of Clyde Blowers Capital.

A statement from MacKellar’s administrators, FRP Advisory, said that the deal, which is for an undisclosed sum, “secures 73 highly skilled jobs and the future of two important engineering businesses in Grantown-on-Spey” adding that, “both businesses are continuing to trade as normal and all 73 staff have transferred to the new company with immediate effect.

Joint administrator Tom MacLennan of FRP Advisory LLP said: “We are very pleased to have concluded the going-concern sale of both businesses to Clyde Blowers Capital IM LLP. The deal is great news for the workforce, customers and the economy of the Highlands. We would like to thank all parties who expressed an interest in the business and all the employees, customers, suppliers and agencies that supported us as we continued to trade and worked to secure a deal.”

Jim McColl OBE, Chairman and CEO of Clyde Blowers said: “We have a strategic vision to transform Ferguson into a leading marine engineering business and key pillars of this strategy are to enhance our service offering and increase our presence in attractive end markets. Ferguson’s acquisition of MacKellar Sub-Sea, which has a strong track record in the niche subsea oil and gas market, will help to achieve these objectives. We look forward to working with the existing management team to integrate and grow the business and are also delighted to welcome MacKellar’s loyal workforce to the group after a period of uncertainty.”

McColl’s Clyde Blowers Capital stepped in last year to rescue Ferguson Shipbuilders and its associated businesses after it fell into administration, and the business was renamed Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd.

MacKellar Sub-Sea Ltd is one of Scotland’s leading specialist sub-sea oil and gas engineering and fabrication businesses.

The company has a niche expertise in a number of different market segments, including sub-sea wellhead protection systems, tree frames, guide bases, offshore transportation systems and hydro-electric turbines.

The complimentary business of Tritech Nairn Ltd, one of Scotland’s leading grit-blasting and painting facilities, currently operates from the former RAF base in Kinloss.