THE sound of rivets being hammered into place resounds around the banks of the Tyne once more. Peter McCusker reports on the rennaissance of a once great industry.

Clipper is expected to operate the manufacturing centre being created at the Neptune yard. The recent budget announcement to increase funding to the offshore renewable sector is a fillip, says Andrew Miller, CEO of NAREC.

Clipper is expected to operate the manufacturing centre being created at the Neptune yard. The recent budget announcement to increase funding to the offshore renewable sector is a fillip, says Andrew Miller, CEO of NAREC.

He said: "The North East has the manufacturing skills, the deep water facilities, the rivers and the supply chain to support a whole new industry.

He said: "The North East has the manufacturing skills, the deep water facilities, the rivers and the supply chain to support a whole new industry.

"We have been talking to companies for some time, companies that are keen to establish manufacturing facilities in the region and this commitment by the Government will help remove the element of uncertainty that has existed in their minds about the viability of such developments."

"We have been talking to companies for some time, companies that are keen to establish manufacturing facilities in the region and this commitment by the Government will help remove the element of uncertainty that has existed in their minds about the viability of such developments."

Last October the River Tyne North Bank Project Board – a partnership of North Tyneside Council, Newcastle City Council, One North East and English Partnerships – selected international property and regeneration experts GVA Grimley to prepare a regeneration masterplan for the north bank of the Tyne.

Last October the River Tyne North Bank Project Board – a partnership of North Tyneside Council, Newcastle City Council, One North East and English Partnerships – selected international property and regeneration experts GVA Grimley to prepare a regeneration masterplan for the north bank of the Tyne.

They are assessing the viability of development on 1,483 acres 600-hectare stretching from the Walker Riverside Industrial Park in Newcastle to the Bull Ring Dock in North Shields.

They are assessing the viability of development on 1,483 acres 600-hectare stretching from the Walker Riverside Industrial Park in Newcastle to the Bull Ring Dock in North Shields.

Newcastle City Council leader Coun John Shipley said: "The Tyne is now re-inventing itself as a centre of excellence in marine engineering.

Newcastle City Council leader Coun John Shipley said: "The Tyne is now re-inventing itself as a centre of excellence in marine engineering.

"It has a major future too in the manufacture of renewable energy systems. This opportunity is simply enormous."

"It has a major future too in the manufacture of renewable energy systems. This opportunity is simply enormous."

North Tyneside Council head of investment and regeneration Trevor Robertson has described the current position as a once in 200-year opportunity to create a new riverside.

North Tyneside Council head of investment and regeneration Trevor Robertson has described the current position as a once in 200-year opportunity to create a new riverside.

A key aspect to the regeneration proposals is the future of Swan Hunter and the council hopes to buy the site from Swan’s former chief Jaap Kroese.

A key aspect to the regeneration proposals is the future of Swan Hunter and the council hopes to buy the site from Swan’s former chief Jaap Kroese.

Mr Robertson said the North Bank project team hopes to create a skill centre which will train young people and other workers with the skills needed to work in the river’s energy industries.

Mr Robertson said the North Bank project team hopes to create a skill centre which will train young people and other workers with the skills needed to work in the river’s energy industries.

"This is a once in 200-year opportunity to reshape the river bank. We already have a hub of companies who excel in subsea oil and gas exploration and we have the facilities to cater for a renewables industry.

"This is a once in 200-year opportunity to reshape the river bank. We already have a hub of companies who excel in subsea oil and gas exploration and we have the facilities to cater for a renewables industry.

"There will be competition from the countries on the other side of the North Sea and from other centres in the UK, but we are strategically placed to become a world-class centre for renewable energy manufacturing."

"There will be competition from the countries on the other side of the North Sea and from other centres in the UK, but we are strategically placed to become a world-class centre for renewable energy manufacturing."

Things are also happening on the south bank where McNulty Offshore is about to begin making a 1,600-tonne offshore substation which will be installed 16 miles off Suffolk.

Things are also happening on the south bank where McNulty Offshore is about to begin making a 1,600-tonne offshore substation which will be installed 16 miles off Suffolk.

It has been awarded the contract by Siemens, which is building 140 wind turbines to feed power to the substation in the North Sea.

It has been awarded the contract by Siemens, which is building 140 wind turbines to feed power to the substation in the North Sea.

It will create 200 jobs for 12 months as well as providing work for the current 400 workers at McNulty.

It will create 200 jobs for 12 months as well as providing work for the current 400 workers at McNulty.

McNulty Offshore managing director Steve Keyworth said: "We recently decided to modify our strategy from purely offshore oil and gas construction projects to onshore oil and gas and renewable projects.

McNulty Offshore managing director Steve Keyworth said: "We recently decided to modify our strategy from purely offshore oil and gas construction projects to onshore oil and gas and renewable projects.

"The skills required are similar and the awarding of this contract is evidence that this is the right approach.

"The skills required are similar and the awarding of this contract is evidence that this is the right approach.

"This is just the start of some major renewable energy developments through the UK and Europe and we believe this marks the start of a highly successful period for McNulty. The skills that are required in the offshore windpower industry are similar to those on offshore oil and gas. This heralds the dawn of a great new future for McNulty and for the River Tyne."

"This is just the start of some major renewable energy developments through the UK and Europe and we believe this marks the start of a highly successful period for McNulty. The skills that are required in the offshore windpower industry are similar to those on offshore oil and gas. This heralds the dawn of a great new future for McNulty and for the River Tyne."

Page 3: Heavy industry on the River Tyne