THE relationship between Grimsby and Iceland is at an all-time high, according to Richard Robinson, chairman of Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises.

The retired solicitor played an important role in last week’s official opening of the £1.2 million Grimsby Fish Market modernisation, not least with his eloquent, lengthy welcome to the strong Icelandic contingent in their native tongue.

Reverting back to English, Mr Robinson said: “Over the last 15 years the importance of Icelandic fish has increased substantially as far as Grimsby Fish Market is concerned. It is now a key factor. It has always been a special relationship. There may have been difficulties in the past, but hopefully these difficulties are well behind us.

“During the last ten years I have been chairman, the relationship with our Icelandic friends and Arctic Fresh, our suppliers, has never been better. It is founded not merely on friendship, but a sound commercial reality. In many matters we are not customers and suppliers, but partners and associates.

“The market in Grimsby is a final part of an integrated supply chain starting with the catching and landing in Iceland.”

The relationship will be further cemented when Atlantic Fresh relocates to offices within the market building in the coming months, having in the past year made the bold decision to concentrate supply to the Humber in Grimsby, leading to the closure of Hull’s market.

The convivial relationship was also clear to see at a special dinner hosted by the British Icelandic Chamber of Commerce at 1857 Restaurant in Forest Pines Hotel, on the eve of Friday’s ceremony.

Mr Robinson said: “Other countries are very jealous of the special relationship between Grimsby and Iceland. We must, however, remain competitive.”

Stating the strength of the relationship was underlined by the presence of the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Steingrimur Sigfusson, and the British and Icelandic ambassadors for the respective nations, Ian Whitting OBE and Benedikt Jonsson, at the launch, he said: “It has been a successful project. I would like to thank Martyn Boyers (chief executive of Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises). The fishing industry is so greatly ingrained in him he will carry it to the grave, hopefully later not sooner! This has been a team effort that should be recognised by everyone.”

Mr Boyers paid tribute to the local project delivery team in Paul Baker, of Cleethorpes-based Low Therm, and Duncan Pidd, of Veldeman Structure Solutions.

Mr Baker is a third generation of his family to work on supporting the town’s seafood industry, as his grandfather Ernest built fish storage cabinets for use in the glory days of the old pontoon, and his father Martyn began Low Therm in 1981.

The White’s Road firm went on to complete major contracts for the likes of Five Star Fish and John T Howard.

Mr Baker said: “We have worked on this for ten months and it has been a very good contract for the whole company, and it was nice to be recognised for it during the ceremony.

“Something of this size on your doorstep does not come up very often, and it is one of the biggest jobs we have done. It was especially pleasing when you consider the economic situation at the moment.”

Up to 20 people were working on the site at the height of the project, which has seen suspended ceilings, cladded walls, new door pods, and temperature and access controls brought into a compartmentalised facility, which was previously one large open space.