A marine engineering services business has gone into administration.

Burgess Marine Ltd, based in Dover, said the business failed after problems with payment for a recently-completed "major refit project".

102 jobs have been lost after sites in Devonport, Portchester, Portsmouth and Southampton closed and staff were made redundant.

Danny Dartnaill, BDO business restructuring partner, said: “Regrettably, difficult trading conditions and a shortfall in the Company’s working capital position - contributed to by a failure to secure the final payment due in regard to a recent major refit project - significantly affected the business and its ongoing viability.

“We are pleased to have been able to secure a partial sale of the business as a going concern, preserving 45 jobs.

"Unfortunately however, it has been necessary for the remaining aspects of the Company to cease trading with immediate effect, resulting in job losses.

"The Administration does not affect the other companies within the wider Group, which continue to trade as normal.

“Going forward, the Joint Administrators will be seeking to maximise recoveries for the benefit of all creditors and will continue to liaise with customers regarding any outstanding contracts.”

Burgess provides ship maintenance, repair, new-build construction and refit services from various sites along the south coast of England as well as in Palma, Mallorca.