Tyson’s Ships Riggers, which sells synthetic ropes and cables to the marine industry in the UK, has purchased new machinery to expand its range of products with the support of a five-figure loan from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Tyson’s Ships Riggers is a family-run firm that was established by director Mark Tyson and his father in 1982, originally selling ropes for the local fishing fleet in and around Grimsby.

Based on the Omega Business Park in Grimsby, the company has since expanded its range of products to include bespoke mooring cables for cross-channel ferries and heavy-duty CALM buoy systems for oil tankers. Tyson’s sons, Jonathan and Chris, now head up the group’s fishing and offshore product divisions respectively.

As part of its ongoing expansion plans, Tyson’s has purchased a wire rope press that can handle much larger diameter cable, which is increasingly in demand from oil and gas vessels and marine contractors.

Mark Tyson, managing director of Tyson’s Ships Riggers, said: “This new wire rope press will be an important part in helping us to cater for growing demand from the international oil and gas sector, where products tend to be considerably larger than those used in fishing.

“We have continued to expand our range of products over the years in response to changing demands from the fishing and marine industries, and we’re currently gaining our certification for new high-duty mooring products that will open up international markets to us.”

Craig Cousen, relationship manager for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Tyson’s is a superb example of how a traditional company can continue to grow even when its traditional market declines, through innovation and hard work.”