Malin Workboats, a newly-launched arm of Malin Marine Ltd, has appointed David Cockburn as Business Unit Manager to head up its operation.

Cockburn has extensive industry experience at companies including marine equipment and marine engine suppliers.

This includes many years at Cummins Engine Company, where he was a senior executive at factory level before going to Turkey to set up a Middle East office. He also ran Cummins’ EMEA Commercial Marine Business Unit, doubling turnover from £35m to £70m.

Malin Workboats will be designed in house and built on the Clyde, backed by the experience and capability to transform operational requirements into reliable vessels.

Malin have developed a range of workboats configured with differing hull, deck and machinery arrangements to operate in aquaculture, ports and civils markets. Rare for the workboats sector, Malin's in-house engineers will provide future service and refit support for the lifetime of the vessel allowing future reconfiguration including additional deck equipment.

Malin Workboats has recently delivered a new 16m design with a larger vessel following soon after and continued design development for an expanding range. Malin Workboats complete the full turnkey delivery including engine & shaft alignment, systems integration, equipment installation and commissioning.

Cockburn said: “I am excited by this new challenge working for Malin, a company which has earned its enviable reputation in the marine industry and which is now bringing that to bear in boat manufacture. Customers who are looking to the future and innovative hybrid/electric propulsion systems will benefit from our expertise and longstanding experience.

"By coming to Malin, you are purchasing more than a boat, you are buying into experience, knowledge and the capability that such a critical asset requires”. “Our workboats will be very functional, highly versatile and reliable workhorses that people and businesses can depend on. They are high-performance and adaptable platforms well capable of supporting harbour operations, aquaculture, diving, moorings and much more.

“They have a modern, modular design which can be customised to suit customers’ needs, with bow type, wheelhouse position and deck equipment tailored accordingly.

“A wide variety of configurations can be accommodated, mitigating any risk that could be associated with building a ‘one-off’, and integration of deck configuration can be done both during the build or afterwards, ensuring the vessel and any ancillary equipment to work efficiently as one."

Graham Tait, Managing Director of Malin Marine Ltd, himself with a family history in workboats and aquaculture, said: “There is undoubtedly huge potential for our company in aquaculture and other sectors which require tough, reliable and effective workboats, and we are delighted to have David Cockburn onboard to focus on growing this part of our business.

‘Malin Group has a heritage going back over 100 years operating from the Clyde and we are excited about launching vessels onto the river going forward. Malin Workboats will eventually look to relocate to a new facility at Malin Group's planned and ambitious Scottish Marine Technology Park also located on the river.

“For now, we have the undercover capacity to build 12 workboats at any one time and with scale we can be very cost effective.”