Sri Lanka’s Neil Marine builds boats for Britain
View(s):Combining 44 years of experience with latest and modern technology, a Sri Lankan boat builder, one of the biggest players in South Asia is making boats for Britain to penetrate the Asian and European markets in a big way, officials of the company said.
Neil Fernando and Co. (Pvt) Ltd (Neil Marine) founded by Neil Fernando in 1969 has partnered with a British company to manufacture boats expanding horizons in the East and West, they revealed.
At present the company has exported around 40,000 boats. It works in close collaboration with Fisher Boat Co. in southern England building boats including two types of sailing boats ‘Yarmouth’ 22 and 23 for the UK market, Neil Fernando, Chairman of the company said.
He noted that the company has a production capacity of 100 boats per month depending on sizes and the export turnover is US$ 3 million. The Fisher ‘Yarmouth’ 22 is a small cruiser designed by David Freeman, built in Sri Lanka by Neil Marine, and detailed and commissioned by the Fisher Boat Co. in southern England. Fisher Yarmouth Boats are being made in the island in association with designer David Freemen and boat builders Neil Marine in Sri Lanka, he disclosed.
The hull and deck moulding together with the beautiful woodwork is completed under licence by Neil Marine in the island, he disclosed.
‘Yarmouth’ 23 was also exported to Japan and this order was secured through Fisher Boat Company, UK, Director Administration Kapila Sumanapala told the Business Times.
He disclosed that the company is also manufacturing the 36-foot long ‘Cromarty’ Sailing for the UK market. It was delivered recently to the Southampton boat show.
World renowned designers such as David Freeman of the United Kingdom and De Jager & Simhony of Netherlands are designing most of the boats.
An average of 5-6 boats is shipped to foreign countries on a monthly basis, he disclosed.
Neil Marine supplies boats to countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Norway, Maldives, Seychelles, India, Pakistan, Africa and the Gulf region
The highest quality maintained by the company conforms to Lloyds Register of Shipping, Detnorske Veritas, American Bureau of Shipping and Indian Register of Shipping and also accredited by ISO 9001: 2008 Certification, Mr. Sumanapala revealed.
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