Mechanical engineering is a major focus for the SMS Group.  Dave Chaffers, mechanical manager for SMS, said, “The big news is the three major mechanical refits that we’ve won. We’ve over 30 time-served marine mechanical engineers in the business now, which is pretty unique on the South Coast.”

He added, “We’re currently, simultaneously, undertaking several 12,000hr overhauls on Stork-Wartsila FHD 240s, 30,000hr overhauls on Ruston RK270s, the 20-cylinder engines, and several overhauls on Scania D12 generators.”

SMS Group states that the mechanical expertise that the business now has is all encompassing, with UK national coverage available from the business’s seven primary sites in Lowestoft, Dover, Portsmouth, Southampton, Poole, Bristol and Plymouth.

SMS is determined to enter new markets this year whilst still focusing on the core business and is set to offer interior outfit from all sites in 2019. Dan Lockyer, SMS outfit manager, said, “The last 24 months have seen SMS benefit from unrivalled growth and success in the commercial marine space.  We’ve exemplary relationships with very many ferry operators, commercial ship operators, superyacht owners and defence contractors.

As the new addition to the SMS team Dan, who joined the company just after Christmas, added, “We’ve interior outfit expertise in-house and my job is to promote that service to all our existing customers.  Having worked on some huge cruise and ferry projects over the past few years I’m confident that this is a service our existing customer base needs and that we can price competitively and deliver professionally.”

Ben Rowe, fabrication manager for SMS, said, “Having worked hard last year to enhance our reputation locally we’ve won several major marine civils contracts. These fabrication projects are supporting key maritime infrastructure and its great work to be involved with, offering both longevity and security to the team.”