Merseyside’s famous shipyard is in line for a lucrative MoD deal. Neil Hodgson looks at the potential for the resurgent operation
Tony Graham, the MoD’s head of capital ships, responsible for client oversight of the project, added: “Alongside the developing build strategy, we are very pleased to announce additional shipbuilding work for the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers which further extends involvement across the UK.
“This provides greater certainty for our supplier base and keeps the project on a sure footing as we enter full-scale manufacture.”
The carriers will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the UK.
Both carriers will provide four acres of capacity, able to sail to any location across the globe.
The flight deck will support an air wing capable of delivering significant offensive air power to support the battle ashore for prolonged periods of time.
Both carriers will support the new generation Joint Strike Fighter, which also involves another Merseyside link.
Birkenhead precision engineer CML has been contracted to provide parts for the new fighter, as part of Britain’s contribution to the US-led project.
The carriers will each weigh 65,000 tonnes, will be 280 metres long and 70 metres wide and will be capable of 25 knots.
They will have a total complement, including the air group, of about 1,500 people.
Cammell Laird’s current workload is split around 50-50 between MoD and commercial sector work.
The yard is seeking to grow the business in the international commercial market targeting North America, Scandinavia and the Gulf of Mexico for ship conversion, refit and repair work.
Last year, the yard won a significant MoD contract to refit 11 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels which are used to provision the navy throughout the world.
Known as the MoD “cluster” contract, the refit work is worth about £180m over the next five years.
A through-life contract could be worth up to £1bn over 30 years.
In November last year, the shipyard also announced an alliance with Italian firm Fincantieri, Europe’s biggest shipbuilder, in support of its bid to provide the next generation of MARS fleet tankers for the UK’s Ministry of Defence. The company also has a strong connection with conversion specialist Keppel Shipyard, based in Singapore, which supports its “global reach” obligations with RFA, and its long-term strategy to deliver its marine services worldwide.
The ACA is a single integrated team formed from BVT Surface Fleet, Babcock, BAE Systems, Thales UK and the MoD – which acts as both partner and client.
It is responsible for delivering the Queen Elizabeth Class ships to time and cost.
