CAMMELL LAIRD has received special praise for supporting NATO in Libya.
The Ministry of Defence wrote to the ship repair firm to thank it for its crucial role in operation Unified Protector.
Cammell Laird has a 25-year contract to help maintain 11 ships in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).
In his letter to the company, Defence Minister Peter Luff praised the Birkenhead business, including the management team, workforce and contractors, for the work it did maintaining RFA Fort Rosalie.
The minister wrote: “As NATO has now brought to a close its operation in Libya, I wanted to write to thank you for the tremendous support Cammell Laird has provided the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
“RFA Fort Rosalie played a significant role in ensuring continuous support to operations was maintained.
“Her availability during this operation was outstanding and is testament to the success of your partnering arrangements with the defence equipment and support afloat project team.
“Your efforts to provide main engine spares, plus vital new fresh water production plant membranes and a service engineer at very short notice, was vital to maintaining the ship on task. “Cammell Laird’s effort on this, and your continued support of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, is much appreciated.
I would be grateful if you could also pass on my appreciation to those subcontractors who worked hard to support these operations.
“NATO action has saved countless lives and has helped the Libyan people bring an end to 42 years of Qadhafi’s tyrannical rule. The Libyan people are now free to choose their own future.
“Although the work in Libya is not yet done, they can be proud of what they have achieved and we can both be proud of what we have done to help them.”
Cammell Laird chief executive John Syvret said the company was immensely proud and deeply committed to supporting the RFA and British forces in operations around the world.
He said: “We work very closely with the RFA to ensure we deliver the best possible service to the 11 ships we maintain as part of our cluster contract.
“This includes supporting the fleet where ever its ships are in the world including in conflict zones.”
