Our News

RLM Selected to support UKRA once again!

October 2022

UK Renewables Academy (UKRA) is delighted to announce that Red Lion Marine Ltd will be providing all of the offshore crew and vessel management for the final day of the course when delegates shall transit offshore on crew transfer vessels to see an offshore windfarm in operation. 

"It is great to have a local company based in Teesside supporting the UKRA course and to be able to show the delegates what skills and services are available right on our doorstep" said Liam McIvor, Director of UKRA." "Red Lion Marine's expertise in offshore renewables and construction will no doubt add to our delegates' experience during their visit to an offshore wind farm - we are proud to be able to work alongside Red Lion Marine Ltd in delivering this, for many, once in a lifetime experience."
 
'Red Lion Marine is backed by over a decade of experience on both the River Tees and further afield in the offshore renewable industry. This work scope on behalf of the UKRA is a clear vote of confidence in RLM whilst they follow suit alongside many offshore developers ensuring local expertise is utilised where possible. We’re looking forward to seeing the planning and preparation come to fruition next month as we role out the first UKRA offshore tour.’ Nathan Hobday, Director. The course has been specifically designed and developed alongside leading industry professionals to give participants an understanding to every area of the sector.

RLM Secures a further 3 years supporting Offshore Wind Training

October 2022

Red Lion Marine, has secured a 3-year extension agreement with global wind industry training provider RelyOn Nutec.
The contract, which was initially signed in 2020, renews a vessel service agreement which sees Red Lion Marine support the training organisation with the delivery of Global Wind Organisation (GWO) accredited courses at their facility on the banks of the River Tees.
The vessel, RLM Luff Way, is used by RelyOn to deliver the marine element of wind sector courses where an offshore turbine transfer environment is simulated on open water. Delegates get the opportunity to practice vessel to wind turbine and vessel to dock transfer drills, as well as ascending and descending tower ladders as part of their GWO Basic Safety Training.
Director of Red Lion Marine, Nathan Lee said: ‘RelyOn Nutec is one of the only organisations across the UK that offer this type of training outside of the pool environment and it’s great to see that they are actively endorsing the renewable industry ethic of using local content where possible. The refreshed agreement allows Red Lion Marine to continue to re-affirm our position as a trusted Teesport based company whilst keeping our crews in guaranteed work’. 
RelyOn Nutec’s Commercial Director, Lee Fenton continued, “Our organisation is rapidly growing our wind sector training offering with significant investments in facilities, equipment and digital learning capabilities. It’s essential that we’re supported by reliable suppliers who have a similar commitment to quality as we do. Red Lion Marine fulfils this brief and more, and we’re pleased to reconfirm our agreement with them”. 
Red Lion Marine has supported RelyOn since the height of the global pandemic when the training organisation had a requirement for a dedicated craft with sufficient deck space for social distancing.
The organisations have also worked closely to deliver the marine scope of the UK Renewable’s Academy in July this year and are looking at future joint projects together as the industry enters an exciting push further into offshore wind next year.

Red Lion features in PD Port's first Teesport Spotlight

September 2022

As part of Teesport’s brand new business spotlight feature, each month we’ll be visiting a different organisation along the banks of the River Tees to showcase the great things that are happening across the industry and the businesses that enable our region to thrive.

This month, for the first ever instalment, we chatted to Nathan Lee of Red Lion Marine to hear about his career and the diverse service offering RLM provides to river users.

Nathan, owner and founder of Red Lion Marine, started his career on the river working at PD Ports as a Pilot Cutter Deckhand back in 2010 – something he later revisited as Cutter Master during the COVID19 pandemic to offer additional support in order to keep vital trade flows moving throughout the national lockdowns.

With over a decade of experience under his belt, Nathan now sits at the helm of Red Lion Marine, managing a crew of up to 12 colleagues and two vessels, delivering a variety of support services to businesses along the river.

Idyllically situated in a quiet corner of the Port Clarence Logistics site, aptly named Red Lion Meadows, Nathan and his crew offer project management support, vessel hire and end-to-end solutions to compliment any marine work scope and to keep projects on track and on budget.

Whilst Red Lion Marine was firmly established on the banks of the river in 2017, it is actually the global COVID19 crisis that has spurred a significant growth period, said Nathan.

“COVID19 was a testing time for Red Lion Marine, stretching our finances and tenure right at the peak of our initial investment into workboats,” he explained. “The climate ultimately paved the way for a completely different business strategy, forging a new resilience within the company which allowed us to continue operating and stay the course throughout the pandemic.

“We’re actually now looking into investing further in new plant and equipment that will help to drive our growth as we continue to emerge out of the other side of COVID19.”

Red Lion Marine was originally established to provide marine consultancy in the offshore renewable industry, working on various projects across Europe. Returning now to his roots in the form of project support and workboat provision, Nathan now has two workboats that sit quayside at Red Lion Meadows; the RLM Luff Way and the RLM Alpha, both of which are currently in contract with neighbour Relyon Nutec.

A global safety training provider for the energy industry, RelyOn Nutetc’s north-east facility is a stone’s throw from Red Lion Marine on the River Tees.

The training organisation relies on Nathan and his crew to support with the marine element of wing sector courses where an offshore wind turbine transfer environment is simulated in open water. The partnership with RelyOn Nutec has built momentum since an initial agreement was signed in 2020, with a three-year contract extension recently agreed and the two organisations now working side-by-side on additional projects.

“We’re really proud of the partnership we have established with RelyOn Nutec,” said Nathan. “What initially started out as a trial during the lockdown has grown, thanks to our hard work, flexibility and commitment to clients, into something which now forms the bulk of our service provision.

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UKRA Success!

July 12, 2022

Just like that, the campaign is complete!

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A total of 50 nautical miles covered, 144 transfers & 76 persons taken offshore for there first time, ever!  All in under 6 hours.

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It was a pleasure to assist UKRA & Stephenson Harwood LLP alongside RelyonNutec to deliver their marine work scope as a grand finale to the UK’s first Renewable Academy course.

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See you next time!

Red Lion Marine Ltd supports UK's first Renewables Academy with Project Management Package

May 12th 2022

Due to the increased number of delegates, the UK Renewables Academy is delighted to announce that Red Lion Marine Ltd will be providing a Project Support package, consisting of marine co-ordination and vessel charter for our four day offshore wind programme in June 2022.

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On the final day of the course, delegates will visit an offshore wind fabrication yard and travel onboard 3 Crew Transfer Vessels which will be managed by Red Lion Marine. Two of the vessels have been chartered in through RLM from Blyth based North Sea Logistics, which will compliment the existing craft from HST Marine.

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"It is great to have a local company based in Teesside supporting the UK Renewables Academy course and to be able to show the delegates what skills and services are available right on our doorstep" said Liam Mcivor, Director of UK Renewables Academy." "Red Lion Marine Ltd's expertise in offshore renewables and construction will no doubt add to our delegates' experience during their visit to an offshore wind farm - we are proud to be able to work alongside Red Lion Marine Ltd in delivering this, for many, once in a lifetime experience."

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Nathan Lee, RLM Director said: 'Red Lion Marine Ltd is backed by over a decade of experience on both the River Tees and further afield in the offshore renewable industry. This work scope on behalf of the UKRA & Stephenson Harwood LLP is a clear vote of confidence in RLM as they follow suit alongside many offshore developers ensuring local expertise is utilised where possible. We’re looking forward to seeing the planning and preparation come to fruition next month as we role out the first UKRA offshore tour.’

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The course has been specifically designed and developed alongside leading industry professionals to give participants an understanding to every area of the sector. The course is also applicable to those who are experienced in one particular area and want to have a better understanding of the wider industry.

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You can read more about the UKRA here: www.ukra.co.uk

WWII Veteran Pays A Visit 

19th April 2022

We’re happy to of hosted an interesting visitor at Red Lion Meadows today, the 1935 built ‘Watchful’,  which is now based in Hartlepool. 
The vessel has undergone extensive refit by a group of volunteers aiming to both restore and maintain the vessel for public use in the future. 
Watchful played a key part in the Dunkirk evacuations, performing a total of 3 cross channel runs and saving over 900 lives.
Alongside Wilton Engineering, Red Lion Marine is proud to be able to assist with maintaining an important piece of maritime history. 

Gone with the wind...

18th November, 2021

Red Lion Marine Ltd is happy to announce that we have entered into a long term agreement with a local Teesside based training provider to supply training vessels for their offshore wind courses.

Following a trial period in 2020, during lockdown, Red Lion Marine was able to provide covid secure craft with adequate deck space and social distancing measures for the required scope, to which we have agreed to continue on a rolling basis.

Going forward our workboat RLM Luff Way will be utilised several times a month as a platform for course candidates to execute the practical elements of their GWO Training and refresher courses.

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Manager Nathan Lee said: ‘Our agreement is a great example of larger national companies supporting local businesses. This work scope not only keeps our vessels on the move but also our crews in work for the foreseeable future. The wind industry is moving forward at a formidable pace and we’re pleased to be able to support that momentum alongside our local Teesside based training centre.’

That's a wrap!

4th November 2021

RLM Luff Way has been hosting a Dutch film crew this afternoon, showcasing various parts of the Tees & Middlesbrough. We’re looking forward to the release next year!

Team Red Lion takes to the ring

26th October 2021

Red Lion Marine has sponsored local Crewman Jack Robinson during the preparation for his Premier Boxing Championship Middleweight boxing at the end of October, which he went onto win!

Jack started on the River Tees as a deckhand onboard the Pilot Cutters before moving up to take charge of the vessel’s engine room. During his spare time he enjoys amateur boxing to which Red Lion Marine is pleased to support his journey going forward. 

RLM Pledges clean up support

October 1st, 2021

Red Lion Marine is pleased to pledge our support to a recently founded group dedicated to cleaning up the South Gare.

The South Gare breakwater is home to a number of birds and marine life whilst also acting as the first line of defence for the channel into the Tees with a lighthouse standing 16m high on the very end. 

We have provided both tools and a small donation to aid their efforts going forward and we’ll continue to do so in the future. 

You can follow their progress on Facebook here.

To Infinity and beyond!

September 28th, 2021

That's a wrap! Our workboats have recently completely a brief campaign supporting lighting alignment works on the Infinity Bridge at Stockton. Both of our crafts were deployed on overnight duty to provide safety cover for the rope access teams working outside of the bridge handrails in conjunction with the designers situated along the river banks.

The campaign concluded without incident and the bridge is ready to shine on through the coming winter months.

Fit for duty

August 28th, 2021

Red Lion Marine is pleased to receive approval from the Canal & River Trust to operate our vessels on the inland water ways of the Tees.

Our permit now sees both craft available to cover various scopes upriver of the Tees Barrage making RLM one of the few companies able to operate on the inland stretches. We look forward to working with the Canal River Trust in the future!

Conversion completion

June 10th 2021

We’re happy to declare that our first workboat conversion is officially completed! Red Lion Marine has successfully spent the last 12 months refitting our ex Pilotage Vessel ‘Osprey’ which included a number of works compromising of a new crew mess & galley, upgraded navigation suite, renewed wheelhouse internals and a hull sand blast with subsequent remedial works. A vessel with a new lease of life deserves a new name to which the Osprey will now be called ‘RLM Luff Way’, named after a local safe passage between the scars at Redcar.

Manager Nathan Hobday said: “I’m proud to welcome the completed vessel into the Red Lion ranks as our primary work boat. This vessel is a prime craft for safety and standby work on a river that is boasting with potential. The addition of facilities onboard means our crew can remain comfortable and alert throughout the duration of the shift, increasing the service to our prospective clients. Furthermore the conversion works have been completed both by the RLM team and local contractors, keeping local businesses in work during this difficult climate, a good job all round.”

RLM Sets a new course

5th April 2020

At the start of 2020 RLM opted to expand the company horizons by returning to its roots in the small craft and workboat market. As a result our first vessel was brought into the company in the form of a retired Pilot Cutter, the ‘Osprey’. Built to serve Liverpool Pilotage Service before supplying drilling rigs off Great Yarmouth, Osprey's career finally came to an end on the Thames.

RLM took the opportunity in February to purchase the vessel and relocate her to the Teesport for a full refit, ready to start work later in the year.

In March RLM added a further asset to the fleet in the form of a 5.8m Tornado rib which will support our larger craft on future work scopes, giving a diverse a multi functional range of vessel class.