Barclays funding supports east coast harbour

Future of Bridlington Harbour secured with new dredger

Bridlington Harbour Commissioners in East Yorkshire have announced completion of the purchase of their new dredger ‘Gypsey Race’, with funding from Barclays.

Established in 1837 as a Trust Port, Bridlington Harbour is run by Bridlington Harbour Commissioners who are responsible for its upkeep and safety. The harbour, which is an active shellfish harbour, needs constant dredging to enable vessels to use the port and keeping the harbour clear enables hundreds of fisherman to use the harbour daily, safeguarding hundreds of jobs.

Chris Wright, Chairman, Bridlington Harbour Commissioners said: “The dredger we previously owned was beyond economic repair and so was taken out of service three years ago. The port in Bridlington does continually silt up so since then we’ve hired in a dredger at huge cost. The funding from Barclays has not only allowed us to purchase the new vessel but it will also save money and secure the future of the harbour for years to come.”

Bridlington Harbour employs fourteen people locally and hundreds of local shell fishermen rely on the port facilities daily.

Kelvin Smith, Relationship Director for Barclays Business Banking put together the funding package for the deal, and said: “Bridlington Harbour Commissioners do a fantastic job looking after the harbour facilities and keeping the harbour open and safe for the local fishermen.

I was delighted that we were able to provide a tailored facility for them, enabling them to complete the purchase of the dredger with stage payments and working to a timetable to suit their financial needs. They are long standing customers of Barclays and it’s a testament to their professional operation that were able to support them with funding to take them to the next level of their growth plans.”