Sunday, 7th October
Merseyside’s maritime and shipping industry were on Sunday handed a huge boost after Cammell Laird announced that they had won two 10-year contracts worth an estimated £619 million to support the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
The company, who called the deal a massive boost, said that winning the contracts means they will be able to sustain more that 300 jobs and create more that 100 apprenticeships.
The deal, known as the Future In Service Support (FISS) contract, will see Cammell Laird maintain nine ships of the RFA flotilla, the maximum number the company could win.
Cammell Laird will continue to support the ships in ‘lot one’, covering the RFA Fort Victoria, RFA Fort Austin, RFA Fort Rosalie, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler, at an estimated value of £357 million.
In addition, Cammell Laird has won ‘lot three’ which covers the four new Tide Class tankers, Tidespring, Tiderace, Tidesurge and Tideforce at an estimated value of £262million.
“The benefits the RFA contract brings to our region cannot be overstated and we will maintain our commitment to ensure this money is invested responsibly”
Cammell Laird CEO John Syvret CBE said the cluster contract has underpinned the company for the last decade enabling it to invest more than £500 million in its workforce, apprenticeship programme, infrastructure, supply chain and local area. He said this new deal will see a similar investment over the next decade.
“Winning this new deal will give us the ability to continue our vital apprentice training programme recruiting talented young people from the area at the same drum beat of around 20 new apprentices a year,” he said.
“Today I am very proud to say we have recruited more than 200 apprentices since 2008 investing more than £12million in staff training.”
“The benefits the RFA contract brings to our region cannot be overstated and we will maintain our commitment to ensure this money is invested responsibly in our workforce and infrastructure to support the future requirements of the MoD and growth of the UK’s maritime sector.”
The contract forms part of a wider £1bn deal that will secure hundreds of jobs at shipyards right across the country, announced by Defence Minister Stuart Andrew today. The deal covers 17 ships and will improve how spares, repairs and maintenance work are carried out.
Founded in 1828, Cammell Laird is one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding and is based on the River Mersey at Birkenhead. The site covers 130 acres and includes four dry docks, a large modular construction hall and extensive covered workshops. It is also at the centre of a marine and engineering cluster with easy access to support services classification societies and port state authorities.