Shipbuildin in the UK

[vic mcclymont]

UK shipbuilding is skeleton of its former self, reduced to a few builders.
When the two carriers were announced, and that building would be spread across a number of yards with sections towed to the final assembly point, I was one who now admits that he was wrong. The whole concept has been a major success.
Wouldn't it be great if the UK Shipyards could bid for the construction of a passenger ship, built in sections around the country and joined together at its final destination. Far Fetched? I don't think so.
Is it worth our yards combining and trying for such a venture?
regards
Vic

[John Callon]

The Fincantieri shipyard in Italy has won the order to build the new 130,000 ton Cunard Liner. The yard is heavily backed by the Italian government.
Regards
John C

[Jim Brady]

John C which is supposed tobe against EU regs as unfair competition,I think it was only soft Johnny English who obeyed the rules.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Lewis McColl]

I agree, the french motor car industry would fail if it was not for government funding. Same with the yard that built the QM2. Maybe though the government thinkis it cheaper to subsidise and keep it running or let it go to the wall and have to pay millions out in unemployment benefit.

[Jim Brady]

H&W Belfast couldn't get government funding for the QE2 because it is against EU rules.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Lewis McColl]

I think they could have but the help was be you must do this you must do that and anyway even Cunard admitted in the end H&W would never have got it as the French wereoffering bigger bribes.

[robpage]

We have always " played to the rules " , on the Western Channel Brittany Ferries fuel bill was reduced because of an agricultural subsidy , they carried cauliflowers , so obviously they were agricultural , the British thought that a ferry was a ship . We never interpret the rules to the spirit of they rule , but to the letter

[Lewis McColl]

So who has got it right, rules are there to be a guide line lol, It all depends on how you interpret them.
A bit like when someone attacks someone with a fire axe and kills them, the right lawyer will get you of on a charge of man slaughter instead of murder.How is that possible??? I suppose you are asked did you intend to kill the victim , no your honor I just mean't to threaten him. OJ Simpson has just been released from jail today after serving 9 years of a 33 year sentence, I wonder if the fact that he was OJ Simpson helped with his appeal for parole??? Sohe murdered hiswife and her lover, got away with that on a mistrial because of some cock up by the police and then gets 33 years for armed robbery and out after 9, no doubt about it justice is blind and the more money you have the blinder it gets.

Sorry way of topic but I was on a roll lol.

[j.sabourn]

We have a. high up. Member of federal parliament whose partner a few years ago was arrested for drug running he wa arrested in Oz. If had been abroad would hav rceived the death penalty. Got 9 years instead was out in 3.
To make it worse he was given a high paying government job and is still there. To talk about rules and regulations one still must beleive in Santa Claus and the cow jumped over the moon. JWS

[robpage]

There is an escape from the rules called a derogation , as a country most of ours are tax related , it is the way around the rules , there seems a reluctance for us to play the European game ,