News

Mustang opens new construction hall

Published

12 years ago

November 20, 2013

ECONOMY Minister Edwina Hart opened the Construction Hall at Mustang Marine, Pembroke Dock as part of the planned expansion of the company last Monday.

Alongside the opening of the hall and unveiling of the plaque, Mustang Marine

also displayed their latest multi-purpose vessel, the SMV24 by Supacat, which is still being built and is the first of its kind. The main purpose of the vessel is to maintain wind farms at sea.

Kevin Lewis, managing director of Mustang Marine, told The Herald the early history of his company: “When I was around 15 years of age, I stood in a graving dock with my father where the last ships to be built in Pembroke Dock were. I told him that that was the business I wanted to be in.

“After being in the Royal Navy, I set up Mustang Marine in 1984 with a specific purpose of building boats, and here we are 30 years later, building boats that are big an substantial. The desire has almost been fulfilled.

“Mustang Marine has come to life over the years, and we now employ over 130 people. We have a desire to grown, though finance is tricky. We looked for partners to promote and expand, though we didn’t have to look far. The Milford Haven Port Authority joined with us and used their facilities in helping us expand.”

Mr Lewis added: “I would like to thank the team at Mustang. They are a very good and experienced team. They’ve put a lot of effort in”.

Cllr Jane Philips, mayor of Pembroke Dock, said: “I see this as job opportunities for Pembroke Dock and for the people of Pembrokeshire – this is what we need”.

All the digitaries were given a tour around the SMV24, where a Mustang Marine spokesman told the Herald: “We started it in February, but it still needs some work with the electrics, though it will be in the water between November 25 and November 28. This is the first of it’s kind and a letter of intent has been written to build another nine. The whole ship was done in house with our own local labour. We train the boys ourselves, who are all committed.”

The Herald was given an exclusive tour around the yard at Mustang Marine, where were shown all workshops and the slipway.

Robert Humphreys, Operations Director at Mustang Marine, told The Herald: “The slipway was extended the same time as the new fabrication. This is where we are building a 36ft Thames River cruiser. The slipway is a great place to build larger vessels as it’s fully covered and directly onto the water.

“We want the opportunity to build many more vessels than we currently are. We can’t build more than what we have done so far, as they take up so much time and space – we haven’t got the room to do it.”

The slipway at Mustang Marine is part of the original dockyard, dating back to the 19th century.

Mr Humphreys continued: “Here we can turn hard metal into complex shapes and do it within strict tolerances and exact standards. You can see the complexity of it just by looking at it. It’s a highly skilled and specialised thing to do.”

Mr Humphreys showed The Herald a number of workshops at Mustang Marine including Workshop 1, where the hull and first tier of the SMV24 was built.

“It took up the entire shed,” Mr Humphreys told The Herald. “We couldn’t have built anything bigger, though having this facility will help us to build bigger things.”

News

Carol Vorderman urges Welsh voters to reject Reform UK ahead of Senedd election

Published

6 minutes ago

April 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

TV presenter and commentator to appear at Cardiff event aimed at mobilising anti-Reform voters before May 7

CAROL VODERMAN has urged voters in Wales to reject Reform UK at next month’s Senedd election, as she prepares to appear at a live political event in Cardiff focused on keeping the party out of power.

Speaking ahead of an emergency Guilty Feminist Welsh Election Special at the New Theatre, Cardiff, on Sunday, April 12, Vorderman said Wales faced a crucial choice at the ballot box.

She said: “Wales has a chance for a new beginning in May. But Reform, the chaotic London-based, privately educated, failed Tory party, needs to be sent packing.

“Already numerous of their 96 Welsh candidates have resigned or been sacked for revolting actions. Their last Welsh Reform leader Nathan Gill is serving time in jail for accepting Russian bribes while serving in the European Parliament. Their new Welsh leader was a Tory living in London until a few months ago.

“Farage is a thin-skinned and proven liar. Everyone must come out to vote to save our country. Cymru Am Byth.”

Vorderman is due to appear alongside Guilty Feminist host Deborah Frances-White, with Welsh comedians Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Priya Hall also on the bill. Organisers say the night will mix comedy, music and political discussion, with the aim of building strategy ahead of the election.

Frances-White said polling suggested the Senedd result could be close and argued that “it really matters who ends up making decisions about our lives”, adding that the event was intended as a “get-in-the-room” night to work out how to respond.

Reform UK’s current leader in Wales is Dan Thomas, who was unveiled by Nigel Farage in Newport in February. Thomas is a former Conservative leader of Barnet Council in London, although he grew up in Blackwood.

Vorderman’s reference to Nathan Gill points to a highly embarrassing chapter in the party’s recent history. Gill, a former Reform UK politician and ex-MEP, was jailed last year after admitting taking bribes from pro-Russian figures in exchange for speeches and statements in the European Parliament.

Asked for a response to Vorderman’s remarks, a Reform UK Wales source replied briefly: “Does she even live in Wales?”

It was a short answer, but perhaps not one likely to end the argument. With the campaign heating up, and with high-profile voices now piling in from outside formal party politics, the battle for attention ahead of May 7 is only getting louder.

News

Accommodation providers in Wales will be required to register under new law

Published

5 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Staff Writer

ANYONE who hosts paying guests in Wales will soon be required by law to register their visitor accommodation with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA).

The new legal requirement will apply to all paid visitor accommodation across Wales, including spare rooms, holiday cottages, cabins, campsites and hotels. Registration will be required whether accommodation is let for a single night, occasionally, seasonally or all year round.

The register is being introduced to give a clearer picture of the visitor accommodation available in Wales and to support councils that decide to introduce the Visitor Levy. Registration will open in October 2026, and both informal hosts and professional accommodation providers will be required to comply or risk facing penalties.

Accommodation providers can prepare now by visiting gov.wales/registeryourplace to find out what information they will need and sign up for updates and reminders. Registration is free for providers and is expected to take less than 15 minutes to complete.

When registration opens, accommodation providers will be asked to provide information, including:
• contact details
• accommodation address
• type of accommodation
• how many people can stay
• when the accommodation is usually open for bookings

Who needs to register?

Any individual or business that takes bookings for overnight accommodation must register by law.

This includes:
• self-catering accommodation and homestays, including on Airbnb or similar
• hotels, guesthouses or bed and breakfasts
• campsites or camping pitches
• hostels or bunkhouses
• caravans, chalets, lodges, shepherd’s huts or glamping
• temporary accommodation for events, including festivals

Rebecca Godfrey, Welsh Revenue Authority Chief Executive, said: “If you take bookings for overnight stays in Wales, you’ll need to register with us. We want to make this process as straightforward as possible, and we’re here to support accommodation providers to register correctly and on time.

“We’ll be publishing further guidance before registration opens in October 2026. In the meantime, I’d encourage providers to visit gov.wales/registeryourplace to find out what to expect and sign up for updates.”

Community

Motorcyclists targeted in Easter safety crackdown

Published

6 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has launched Operation Apex ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday, with officers stepping up efforts to keep motorcyclists safe on roads across the region.

The force says more riders are expected to take to the roads over the long weekend, prompting increased patrols, targeted enforcement on routes considered high-risk, and engagement with bikers at key locations.

Police are urging riders to take extra care by keeping their speed down on corners, watching carefully for other road users, and treating rural roads with caution, as conditions can change quickly and surfaces are often less predictable.

As part of the operation, motorcyclists are also being encouraged to sign up for a BikeSafe workshop. The police-led initiative offers expert advice as well as an observed ride aimed at helping bikers improve their skills and confidence on the road.

Officers are also reminding riders to carry out basic safety checks before setting off, particularly if their motorbike has not been used for some time. Tyres, brakes, lights, chain condition, oil and fuel levels should all be checked before any journey.

The warning comes as recent wet weather has left some road surfaces badly damaged, with potholes posing an extra hazard. Police also noted that while spring temperatures are improving, chilly mornings can still bring frost or icy patches in places, alongside the usual unpredictability of Welsh weather.

Dyfed-Powys Police said riders should enjoy the Easter weekend, but make safety and getting home safely their top priority.