Teesside's bygone reputation as a shipbuilding hub was revived when a vessel built in Middlesbrough was launched on the River Tees.
The Gracie Ava was launched on Saturday morning at Dawson's Wharf, Riverside Park in Middlesbrough.
The historic launch of Jalna Construction’s 14-metre long industrial boat at the weekend is the culmination of two years of skilled engineering work at the fabrication firm’s Riverside Park base.
Jalna Construction managing director Greg Horner, who named the boat The Gracie Ava after his four-year-old grandaughter said: “The project has been a labour of love for the past two years and whilst I’m proud to see it sail away, I’ll also miss seeing it evolve every day.
“I’m extremely proud of our whole workforce including my sons Richard and Tom and the hard work and dedication they have put into building and now launching The Gracie Ava.
“I’m sure my grandaughter will be as proud as I am.”
Following its launch, the boat set out for the Isle of Skye where it will be used for salmon net cleaning and fishing by its new owner Feorlig Marine.
Jalna non-executive director Gary Lumby added: “This is a fantastic reminder of the world-class engineering skills we have here and what they can achieve.”
The Gracie Ava project represented a diversion for Jalna from its core business of supplying fabrication and engineering services to the offshore wind, marine and construction sectors.
Despite building the ship between other contracts, the business is now considering making a second vessel on Teesside.
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