#Shipbuilding - Arklow Marine Services recently celebrated the completion of its third service vessel for the offshore wind farm sector in the shape of the Gardian 18.
And as the company's director Billy Tyrrell tells The Irish Times, it's the latest fruit of an important decision the fourth-generation boat builder made some time ago to adapt for the future.
"About five years ago we realised that we had to change tack," he says. "We had been looking after the fishing industry but the decline meant that industry was gone from us."
The solution for Arklow Marine Services was a redirection towards the growing offshore energy sector in the UK - and according to Tyrrell it now accounts for up to 50% of their turnover.
The Gardian 18 itself represents a €2.3 million order, the third for offshore specialist Gardine's subsidiary Alicat following two successful launches in early 2012.
Tyrrell says adapting to the industry's requirements has not been difficult, noting that "the basic principles are the same; we're just applying [our craft] to different markets."
But the firm hasn't abandoned its traditional shipbuilding business, and is even continuing to take on land-based fit-outs and maintenance on the side. As Tyrrell says, "you need the big contracts but you need the small stuff too."
The Irish Times has much more on this story HERE.