Marine Plant Hire expands fleet with Damen 2611 Multicat workboat

Latest addition to the Marine Plant Hire fleet offers a versatile, proven work platform to marine contractors in UK waters and beyond

Dartmouth, UK, 8 June 2026: Marine Plant Hire (MPH), the Devon-based specialist marine plant and vessel operator, has added a Damen 2611 Multicat workboat to its fleet. The vessel is one of very few available to charter in the UK. It extends the range of deliverables and clients the company can support, and will help meet increased project demand and complexity as MPH and its parent Ancora Group continue to grow.

The Damen 2611 is a versatile and highly seaworthy platform. Its wide, flat deck, shallow draft, powerful cranes and heavy-duty winches make it well suited to towing, dredging, diving and surveying operations – covering the full breadth of work that might be needed for any marine civil engineering project.

The multi-million-pound investment reflects MPH’s focus on offering a comprehensive range of vessels and equipment to contractors working on mid and large-scale marine infrastructure projects. The Multicat joins MPH’s existing fleet of over 35 workboats, barges and specialist plant. Prior to acquisition, it operated in territories including Mozambique, Iraq and Uruguay, underlining its readiness for demanding environments at home and overseas.

“The 2611 Multicat provides us with opportunity to service a wider variety of projects and clients,” said Rich Eggleton, managing director of Marine Plant Hire. “Chosen for its pedigree, this go-anywhere, do-anything vessel is exactly the sort of asset our clients may need on larger, more complex contracts. We’re confident she’ll be in high demand – in the UK, but also in Europe and beyond.”

The vessel will be named in recognition of the long-standing contribution of Tom Scruby, a long-term advisor to several Ancora Group companies.

Commenting on the dedication, Rich Eggleton said: “Naming this vessel after Tom is incredibly fitting. He has given decades of knowledge, leadership and friendship to MPH and our sister companies, and we wanted to mark that in a lasting way. We hope his name continues to inspire everyone who relies on this remarkable vessel.”

The formal naming ceremony will be held on board during Seawork International 2026 in Southampton. Ancora Group is inviting its friends and clients for drinks on deck at 13:30 on Wednesday 10 June.

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Editors notes

Ancora Group is a UK-based marine infrastructure services leader delivering design engineering, construction, installation and long-term maintenance for coastal, inland water and marine environments. The group brings together four specialist companies – TMS Maritime, Hesselberg Erosion Protection, Marine Plant Hire and Red7Marine – providing integrated solutions that protect communities, connect regions and sustain natural environments. With capabilities spanning marine civils, specialist marine plant, nuclear, offshore energy and erosion protection, Ancora supports complex projects across the UK, Europe and beyond. The group maintains strong, long-standing relationships with water utilities, harbour authorities, tier-one contractors and environmental agencies.

For more information, visit www.ancoramarine.com