Five year deal for Tyneside shipbuilder

Nov 9 2009 By Andrew Mernin, The Journal

TYNESIDE shipbuilder A&P Tyne has landed a £55m deal to build two sections of the country's future flagship vessels, the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

The contract, with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) consortium, will see many of the firm's 210-strong workforce working on the project over the next five years.

The sections of the ship which are being built on Tyneside will make up part of the mid section of the aircraft carriers. These will make up approximately 4,000 tonnes of each ship, which is the equivalent of over 420 double decker buses.

ACA Programme Director Geoff Searle said: "This is a fantastic day for A&P Tyne and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance. These carriers will be this country’s future flagships so our primary focus and that of our contractors is ensuring we deliver the best vessels possible to the Royal Navy.

"The commitment of the Tyneside workforce to building these ships for the UK Armed Forces is very evident and I am delighted that A&P Tyne is now officially on contract and has started to make great progress on the first ship."

A&P Group managing director David Skentelbery said: "Our Hebburn workforce has a proud tradition of delivering a first rate job and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so on this hugely prestigious project.

"At A&P Tyne, we are set to deliver a substantial part of these ships and I am delighted that we can represent the North East on the project."

Constituency MP for Jarrow and the A&P Tyne yard in Hebburn, Stephen Hepburn said: "This is an historic day for the shipbuilding in the North East. It is fantastic that the A&P Tyne workforce, particularly the young apprentices starting a career at the yard will have the opportunity to work on a project which is so important to the nation."