EAPL (European Active Projects Ltd) has ceased its boat repair operations at Ramsgate.
The firm has withdrawn from Slipway 1 and cleared the site.
EAPL Director Steve Jones said: “I can confirm we have disappointedly ceased operations at the Ramsgate Slipway.”
No reason has been given for the shut down.
The firm was recently fined £100,000 after a Health & Safety Executive prosecution. The fine, plus £5,730 in costs, was ordered in relation to a breach of Work at Height Regulations after one of its workers was spotted on a pallet raised by a forklift truck at Ramsgate Harbour.
Services from EAPL at slipway one had included quick turnaround slippings, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, refits, retrofits and project management and water jet overhauls.
Vessels previously repaired on the slipway include the Medway Queen paddle steamer, which arrived in Ramsgate in July 2021, for hull maintenance and painting, and Vreindschap – most recently known as Ramsgate Arts Barge – which is now owned by EAPL and at its facility in Chatham while a buyer for the vessel is sought.
The company has several sites including Chatham, Falmouth and Southampton.
In 2017 EAPL concluded an agreement with GPS Marine for the joint operation of the slipway facility at Ramsgate.
The aim was to provide a facility for GPS vessels given the shortage of slipway facilities in the Thames and Medway,.
It is understood GPS may be taking over full operation in Ramsgate.
Slipways 2 and 3 were dismantled after a deal was signed in 2015 in preparation for a Hornby Hobbies visitor centre at the Harbour.
The Scalextric and model train giant, had planned to create the centre next to the maritime museum.
Developer Jack Baker, of Neath Properties, took on the £3.7million scheme and carried out work on the historic slipways as part of the project.
But in 2017 it was confirmed that Hornby had withdrawn its proposals after a sale of the site at Margate included an agreement to lease back part of the site for the Visitor Centre and retail outlet – which was renamed The WonderWorks last year.
GPS Marine has been contacted for further details.
