Trafalgar Wharf, Portchester, Portsmouth
Encyclopedia
Trafalgar Wharf is a shipyard
in Portsmouth
accommodating marine engineering
businesses ranging from sailmakers and boat brokers to boat builders. It was formerly the VT Halmatic shipyard, owned by VT Group
and latterly by BVT Surface Fleet
.
site and renamed it Trafalgar Wharf. The site is the former VT Halmatic shipyard where many smaller Royal Navy
warships, such as minesweepers
, were built. BVT Surface Fleet had been formed by the merger of the BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions subsidiary with VT Shipbuilding, itself originating as Vosper Thorneycroft. With the sale of the Portchester site, they vacated the yard, bringing an end to this historic and well known company's use of the area, consolidating operations at its Shipyard facilities in HMNB Portsmouth
.
, opposite Port Solent
. It enjoys spectacular views and waterfront access. The company intends to remain true to its industrial roots, combining light marine trade with heavier industries. The site offers a wide range of space for marine businesses in buildings ranging from the massive 400 ft (121.9 m) main shed, probably the largest building of its kind on the south coast, to smaller individual business units including office space, housing the UK office of Translizer
and many other companies, overlooking Port Solent Marina.
Trafalgar Wharf has opened its doors in a bid to attract new business with an exciting revamp under way. It is set up for a wide range of water vessels and will be able to accommodate, store, build, repair and refit powerboats and super yachts from 20 ft (6.1 m) to 180 ft (54.9 m) There are lifting facilities, slipways and holding pontoons. The yard has storage for boats, caravans, motorhomes or other vehicles. There are serviced offices, warehouses, workshops and industrial units for rent.
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
accommodating marine engineering
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
businesses ranging from sailmakers and boat brokers to boat builders. It was formerly the VT Halmatic shipyard, owned by VT Group
VT Group
VT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
and latterly by BVT Surface Fleet
BVT Surface Fleet
BAE Systems Surface Ships is a wholly owned subsidiary company of BAE Systems, specialising in naval surface shipbuilding, systems integration and through-life support...
.
History
In September 2008, Trafalgar Wharf Ltd took over the former BVT Surface FleetBVT Surface Fleet
BAE Systems Surface Ships is a wholly owned subsidiary company of BAE Systems, specialising in naval surface shipbuilding, systems integration and through-life support...
site and renamed it Trafalgar Wharf. The site is the former VT Halmatic shipyard where many smaller Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
warships, such as minesweepers
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
, were built. BVT Surface Fleet had been formed by the merger of the BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions subsidiary with VT Shipbuilding, itself originating as Vosper Thorneycroft. With the sale of the Portchester site, they vacated the yard, bringing an end to this historic and well known company's use of the area, consolidating operations at its Shipyard facilities in HMNB Portsmouth
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
.
The site
The 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) Trafalgar Wharf site is located in the upper reaches of Portsmouth HarbourPortsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
, opposite Port Solent
Port Solent
Port Solent is an area of Portsmouth, Hampshire, comprising a marina and luxury housing estate. The development is located on the western side of Horsea Island, in the north of Portsmouth Harbour, and was built in the 1980s on reclaimed land formerly used as a landfill site...
. It enjoys spectacular views and waterfront access. The company intends to remain true to its industrial roots, combining light marine trade with heavier industries. The site offers a wide range of space for marine businesses in buildings ranging from the massive 400 ft (121.9 m) main shed, probably the largest building of its kind on the south coast, to smaller individual business units including office space, housing the UK office of Translizer
Translizer
Translizer Group, commonly known as Translizer, is an international technology company with offices in Portsmouth, United Kingdom and Houston, Texas. Translizer's core operation is the facilitation of foreign language translation through an aggregator search function similar to sites like...
and many other companies, overlooking Port Solent Marina.
Trafalgar Wharf has opened its doors in a bid to attract new business with an exciting revamp under way. It is set up for a wide range of water vessels and will be able to accommodate, store, build, repair and refit powerboats and super yachts from 20 ft (6.1 m) to 180 ft (54.9 m) There are lifting facilities, slipways and holding pontoons. The yard has storage for boats, caravans, motorhomes or other vehicles. There are serviced offices, warehouses, workshops and industrial units for rent.