Aberdeen-headquartered ships agency and marine support business Ffolkes Offshore has continued its expansion with the establishment of a services hub for the East Anglia coast region at Lowestoft.
The facility based at Lowestoft Enterprise Park will support existing and new client activity across the ports at Felixstowe, Great Yarmouth and Harwich.
Ffolkes Offshore has recruited an initial team of three, led by highly experienced marine services professional, Andy Surplice, as Operations Manager. The company’s core focus will be on continuing the growth of Ffolkes Offshore’s growing maritime and offshore energy business.
Ben Sutherland – Founder & Managing Director, said: “Lowestoft has been a key port to the offshore industry since the 1960s and has emerged as a centre of excellence for companies supporting the maritime, energy and renewable sectors so choosing this as our location to grow our business off the east coast made a lot of sense.
“We are delighted to welcome Andy Surplice to lead the team as regional Operations Manager at our new hub in Lowestoft.
“He brings over two decades of local shipping and logistics expertise. This, combined with our new facility, ensures we can deliver the best value and service in this area while bolstering our UK coverage.”
Andy said: “In my almost 30 years of offshore oil and gas, windfarm and conventional cargo experience, I have prided myself on developing good relationships with clients, their vessels, crew and suppliers that ensures smooth and effective working practices in the offshore environment.
“My new role at Ffolkes Offshore offers me a sea of opportunity in which to grow the business and deliver innovative solutions in a growing industry focused on reducing port costs.”
Ffolkes Offshore has enjoyed strong growth in 2020 through the delivery of its service-oriented ships agency and logistics solutions despite current market conditions.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, Ffolkes Offshore has created six jobs across its sites in Aberdeen and Montrose as well as in Peterhead and Lerwick. The company expects to see this number increase into 2021 as expansion continues and will result in new local employment and opportunities for trainee positions across their sites.