MBNA Thames Clippers founder and chief executive Sean Collins has fulfilled a "burning desire" as the river ferry operator is building vessels for the first time ever in the UK. Wight Shipyard Co scooped the order to build the fast ferries for MBNA Thames Clippers' network on London's River Thames in what is the largest passenger fast ferry contract for a UK shipyard in over 25 years. Mr Collins said: "It has always been a burning desire and a long-term ambition for me to one day start building our boats in the UK. Up until now I have not had the confidence to go with a British yard because of their jaded history and inflated prices, and then not delivering. In 2014, five yards went out of business which had been predominantly building high speed windfarm vessels. This gave me no confidence in a yard being able to deliver a larger passenger vessel built to High-Speed Craft Code requirements. I have a very different view with Wight Shipyard Co, because of both the management and the workforce. They have brought together some of the best people. They have a large, young force."
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