LIKE everyone else, Hampshire’s marine sector has taken a broadside during the seemingly endless economic storm.

Yet while many firms are struggling, a glimmer of light is now on the horizon.

For the Government’s drive to keep the electricity switched on could potentially fuel a boom that is set to take the marine industry out of the doldrums.

Millions of pounds are being pumped into a new generation of offshore windmills surrounding our windy coastline, including 240 wind turbines nine miles offshore from Barton-on-Sea. And all need servicing by sea.

However, the Solent marine industry, which is worth an estimated £5.5billion a year and employs 25,000 people, has not missed the boat.

Key players are boasting bulging order books and are predicting a sunny future.

Andrew Webster, organiser of the Seawork exhibition at Southampton docks, now in its 15th year, which is leading exhibition of its kind in Europe, said: “One of the biggest changes driving the business is marine renewables.

“It will be the case for the next five to 10 years. Constructing them is one issue but maintaining them is quite another issue.

“Hampshire is well placed to take advantage of that and that is why we have Seawork in Southampton.”

About a quarter of the 450 exhibitors are from the southern region, including over 40 from in and around the Hampshire coast.

One of them riding the crest of the wave is Cowes based South Boat, a boat builder which has suppliers throughout Hampshire.

It has carved a niche in renewable workboats and its yards on the Isle of Wight and in Hythe, employing up to 350 people, are working flat out to deliver 25 vessels each year.

After reeling in their first wind farm client at the Seawork exhibition in 2004, it has seen its annual turnover surge from £1m to £30m last year.

South Boats technical director Ben Coleman said: “I think it is a case of being in the right place at the right time.

“We are very fortunate because we are in the hub of it in the Solent area and we have found success by forming relationships with suppliers rather than shopping around.

“Hopefully the growth in our company will see the growth in the supply chain.”

And it is not just the boat builders benefiting from the wind farm windfall.

Southampton based naval architecture and design firm BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, which is employs 40 at its Shamrock Quay office, has seen their work in the renewable sector grow from nothing to a yearly turnover of £1m.

Marketing director Mark Willbourn said: “For us it is the industry to be in. We employ 40 people in Southampton and that is growing in numbers, partially due to the success in the offshore renewables.”

Also riding the wind powered wave are the many Hampshire businesses supplying equipment for the crew of the boats.

One is Lymington based Harken Industrial, which has just launched its PowerSeat to lower engineers up and down wind turbines.

The firm, which usually designs and sells to the marine leisure industry won the prestigious Innovation Award in the Renewable Energy category at the Seawork exhibition.

Sales director Tom Peters said: “It is about broadening our business when one industry is down.”