James Fisher and Sons plc () is a British provider of marine engineering services, listed on the London Stock Exchange. It also remains a major shipowner, based in Barrow-in-Furness since the 1840s.
History The company was founded by James Fisher in 1847 in Barrow-in-Furness as a ship-owning business transporting haematite from the Cumbrian hills. In 1868 it had 70 ships and by the 1870s it owned the largest coasting fleet in the United Kingdom. It acquired the Furness Shipbuilding Company in 1870 but only went on to build one ship, Ellie Park. During the 1880s it slowly moved from operating sailing ships to operating steamers.
It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1952.With a fair wind blowing there are profits to be made on the high seas The Scotsman, 6 April 2003 From the 1960s the company was managed by Directors with no family connection. At that time it established a reputation for moving heavy equipment, including even locomotives, by sea. By 1965 it had built its first ship suitable for transporting irradiated nuclear fuel. In the 1960s the company chartered up to a dozen of its ships to the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company to operate the latter's Preston based container services across the Irish Sea.By Road Across the Sea, Miles Cowsill Ferry Publications In 1984 the company acquired short sea and offshore specialists Coe Metcalf Shipping, lifting the fleet to 42 vessels, and in 1996 it acquired P&O Tankships.
The company's division James Fisher Defence formerly operated the submarine rescue service for the Royal Navy, and provided the submersible Scorpio 45 which saved the lives of seven Russian sailors in their submarine in 2005.International cooperation saves trapped submariners In 2005 James Fisher acquired Fendercare Marine Solutions Ltd for £12m and in 2007 it acquired Buchan Technical Services for £5m and F T Everard & Sons Ltd, a leading competitor in the UK coastal shipping market, for £35m.James Fisher buys Everard In 2013 James Fisher acquired Divex Ltd for an initial consideration of £20m in cash plus a further maximum additional consideration of £13m linked to future profitability targets.
Operations The company operates from various locations throughout the world, with its corporate headquarters in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, and provides the following services: Defence (design, construction and operation of rescue submarines) Port Agency Renewable Energy services Marine oil services Offshore oil services Shipping services Specialist technical services
Fleet
The charter tanker fleet is operated by the subsidiary James Fisher Everard.
Ship Built DWT Notes Cumbrian Fisher 2004 12,921 Clyde Fisher 2005 12,984 Raleigh Fisher 2005 35,192 Ex Maersk Raleigh Shannon Fisher 2005 5,420 Dee Fisher 2006 4,653 Solway Fisher 2006 5,421 Speciality 2006 4,426 Also handles petro-chemical cargoes Seniority 2007 4,430 Also handles petro-chemical cargoes Superiority 2007 4,415 Also handles petro-chemical cargoes Sarnia Cherie 2007 3,515 Ex Vedrey Tora. Involved in supplying the Channel Isles Corrib Fisher 2008 6,090 Ex Bomar Pluto Sarnia Liberty 2008 3,532 Ex Vedrey Thor. Involved in supplying the Scottish Highlands and IslandsPelican Fisher20089,596 Kestrel Fisher 2013 7,062 Ex Damen Bergum 9394. King Fisher 2013 7,067 Ex Ouse.Sir John Fisher20226,106Lady Maria Fisher20236,106
Sir John Fisher Foundation The Sir John Fisher Foundation is a charitable trust established in 1980 by Sir John Fisher and his wife Lady Maria Fisher, in order to support good causes in the area surrounding the company's headquarters in Barrow-in-Furness. The foundation's capital fund includes its shareholding in James Fisher and Sons plc. The dividends paid by the company enable its trustees to make grants to charitable causes, throughout the UK, but with special regard to those based in and working for the benefit of people living in and around Barrow-in-Furness and surrounding area.
References
Further reading Watson, Nigel, Round The Coast And Across the Sea, St Matthews Press, 2000
External links Official site Sir John Fisher Foundation