Oldcourt Boats, with a base on the Ilen River between Baltimore and Skibbereen, has announced the purchase of a new heavy-duty piece of equipment for their business.

With a grant of €67,000 through the Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) South West Scheme, the company have purchased a Magni TH5.5.19P telehandler, a heavy-duty lifting machine with a remote-operated basket that will transform how essential repair and maintenance work is carried out.

Crucially, the investment means that two new full-time equivalent jobs will be created, and five existing roles will be secured.

The second-generation boatyard was founded in the 70s by shipbuilder Donal O’Donovan, and today is under the leadership of his son Don.

The business has adapted over recent decades, shifting their focus in the late 1980s to servicing the local fishing fleet and eventually constructing their own boatyard on the Ilen River, complete with slipways, piers, and later, a state-of-the-art travel lift.

In the 1990s, the yard expanded again to serve the growing pleasure craft sector, restoring classic yachts and providing storage, haul-outs, and emergency support to local ferry operators and lifeboat services along the south coast.

Today, the business continues to evolve and services customers from the United States, South Africa, France, England, Austria, as well as across Ireland under the stewardship of Don and a team of highly experienced shipbuilders and a long-serving foreman.

According to Don O’Donovan, this purchase is an important step for the company.

The Magni TH5.5.19P’s man basket will allow for safer and more efficient working at height.

‘The machine will be used for mast work, vessel repairs, inspections, and maintenance of the yard’s existing 90-ton boat lift. Crucially, the remote-control basket operation will allow for more precise and secure handling when carrying out delicate tasks on tall or awkwardly positioned structures.’

The decision to invest follows extensive consultation with customers, many of whom highlighted that working at height can be slow and cumbersome when scaffolding is required.

The new telehandler will eliminate much of this need, speeding up small repairs, rigging checks, and mast work, while also improving safety for staff, contractors, and visiting specialists.

The new equipment will also ensure electricians, riggers, and marine engineers have a reliable, modern, and secure platform to do their work, increasing the yard’s ability to attract and host specialist contractors all year-round.

‘As marine tourism and yacht cruising continue to grow in Ireland, the ability to service vessels safely and efficiently is becoming a competitive requirement’ said Don. ‘This investment replaces slower, less flexible methods of doing repairs at height. It also allows for efficient, faster and safer mast work, meaning a quicker turnaround for visiting vessels.’

The new telehandler will feature a cleaner, more efficient diesel engine, reducing emissions aligning with the yard’s commitment to greener operations, including increased recycling and the adoption of more environmentally friendly marine products.

Since 2018, the company has already achieved a 5% reduction in emissions through equipment upgrades, including replacing its travel lift with a more efficient model in 2019.