The Briggs Family initially became involved in the marine industry on the Firth of Forth, providing tough, dependable workboats to assist marine based construction works both on the East and West coasts of Scotland
In the 1980s, Briggs saw an opportunity in the Environmental Services market and by 1987 had purchased an oil spill response vessel, and established Briggs Enviromental Services. Briggs were part of the response team for the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988 and the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989. Also in the late 80s they started providing vessels and manpower for oil and gas terminal operations round the UK.
Briggs Marine became involved in various salvage operations, including the Sea Osprey Wave Generator at Dounreay and recovery of a 360 aircraft from the Firth of Forth.
The company offered installation support of the sea outfalls, outfall defences, coastal protection works and assisted in commissioning and manning the Vapour Recovery Unit on Hound Point Terminal (BP) in the Forth.
During the 2000s Briggs expanded its services further into submarine cable repair and installation, single point mooring repair and maintenance, heavy moorings and Aids to Navigation refurbishment, and are responsible for the maintenance and repair of all MoD heavy moorings and navigation aids around the UK, Gibralter and Cyprus.
Briggs Marine started operating in various countries delivering a full suite of environmental solutions including consultancy, training and spill response services.
The Group has now expanded its services into the renewable energy market, with Framework Agreements in place with a number of large offshore wind developers.
In 2010 and 2012 the Company signed long-term contracts to manage The Environment Agency’s survey fleet round the coast of England and Wales and TfL’s Woolwich Free Ferry on the Thames.
The range of services to the marine market continues to expand with the launch of an in-house diving division in 2014.