The owner of a successful Highland boat yard says he was "forced out" after the site was bought over by troubled shipping firm Harland & Wolf, damaging the local economy.
Donald Sharman, owner of Mallaig Boat Yard, claims he was "informed by text" that the site the business had operated on for more than 10 years had been sold.
The land, which was owned by local businessman Finlay Finlayson, was acquired by Harland & Wolff - best known for building the Titanic - which announced earlier this week that it has called in administrators leaving hundreds of manufacturing jobs in Scotland facing an uncertain future.
The Belfast-based company has brought in Insolvency practitioners Teneo to act as administrators and its shares will be delisted.
At the time of the buyout, around a year ago, Harland & Wolf was headed up by chief executive John Wood who left in July after the firm announced it was winding down "non-core" business lines.
Mr Sharman says he had carried out repairs for Mr Wood on one of his private boats.
He said: "I got a text message on September 9 last year to tell me that the boatyard had been sold to Harland & Wolff and I got a letter the next day saying we had to be locked up by December 4 or around that date.
"It was a big shock because we were in the process of negotiating a new lease.
"They [Harland & Wolffe]came in and made a vague attempt to advertise for an apprentice but never got going."
He said he was surprised that a major company would "taken an interest in a little backyard boatyard in the middle of nowhere that could do only a quarter of what they said they were intending to do with it."
He believes the site was bought for a sum in the region of £600,000.
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He has since re-located the business to Corpach in Fort William and says he has been able to expand but said the business was a big loss to the area.
“The local community in Mallaig is left with a vacant hole in the centre of the village.
"It was a tourist hotspot, we were supporting visitors to the marina. Staff at the yard would put back into other businesses - we all supported each other.
"I employed at the time 11 men in Mallaig, we lost a few after Covid so now those boys have to travel to Fort William every day.
"My business in Mallaig was sound, it was steady and we were providing a reliable service to local charter and fishing vessels.
"Mallaig is the gateway to the Western Isles, it is a lifeline to local island communities.
"It vessels can't run because they're broken down, those communities suffer - other businesses suffer.
"Harland & Wolfe have destroyed a local business and the businesses that we were supporting."
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Another local business owner said: "It's outrageous what has gone on here.
"The yard closed before it opened leaving a derelict yard in the middle of the village.
"We have had the worst summer ever - it's been the wettest on record.
"The [Jacobite} steam train is running but at much reduced numbers so together with the dreadful weather it has been very hard for all the businesses."
Mr Finlayson said his site was sold "with the best intentions".
He said: "We had high hopes for Harland & Wolff and this is disappointing."
The Herald has contacted Mr Wood for comment.
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