Two marine firms are coming together to launch a centre for ship repair and engineering excellence at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard, maintaining Medway’s long shipbuilding traditions.

Turks Shipyard, which moved to the Historic Dockyard eight years ago, has ensured that the industry has kept afloat in Medway. And, thanks to a link up with Burgess Marine, the UK’s largest independent ship repairer, based in Dover, the business is set to thrive for years to come.

Managing director Richard Turk, whose family started up the business on the River Thames 300 years ago, said the two companies would complement each other and provide a full service for customers both home and abroad under one roof.

Mr Turk said he also hoped to increase his 50-strong workforce in the next few years.

He said: “It is of mutual benefit to both of us. It is good news for boats and jobs and the industry.

“Boatyards are being sold and disappearing along both the Thames and Medway. I feel passionate about this venture – after all it’s in my blood.”

Turks has recently installed a 600-tonne winch and a fully undercover facility, enabling it to increase its capacity and volume of vessels taken on board.

Dover-based Burgess Marine, which has bases from the Thames Estuary to the Bristol Channel, employs hundreds of skilled personnel who carry out work throughout Europe, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

Ashley Hurrell, Burgess business development manager, said: “Our role is to keep the marine industry thriving. So much of our waterfront is being sold to property dealers – and once we have lost it we have lost it forever.”

Turks, originally a river family of boat builders and passenger boat operators, now specialises in maintenance services for Dutch barges and Thames clipper boats.

Among the company’s most exciting and challenging contracts in the last two years is a floating cinema which sails up and down the Thames.