The Great British Shipbuilding Revival

[John Arton]

Lewis
From what I have read, they are going to be built in blocks at various shipyards in the U.K. with final assembly at BAE, just like the new aircraft carriers.
A and P has just delivered the stern section of the new U.K. Antarctic research vessel to Camell Lairds for assembly.
This method of construction has/was widely used in German shipyards situated on the Elbe and Weser when they were churning out feeder container ships. Hull sections built in Poland, assembled in Germany along with fitting out. Stern sections containing the expensive bits were always built in Germany.
rgds
JA

[Lewis McColl]

Well let's hope this is the start of something good for all the UK. It has to be better having men & women gainfully employed earning a wage and perhaps learning a trade than sitting in Weatherspoons spending there Giro!!!

[robpage]

It will be the first warship built without an overspend , if the minister is true to his word. .

[happy daze john in oz]

Lewis, just like Cappy we went into business for some time and did well out of it.
But I have also managed multi million dollar catering businesses and can tell you it is not easy to find an apprentice chef.
One of the problems we often had was with the Union, not interested in the workers, more in themselves. Get enough to vote for you and you will be safe at the trough until the next election comes around.

But at the Uni there were many a student who would have been better suited at a Vocational education rather than studying for a degree that could prove worthless.
But as I know from speaking with many, peer pressure saw them in courses they did not want to do.
'My dad was an engineer and wants me to be one, but I wanted to be a chippie' that was often heard.

But what has made the situation worse is working conditions and the Unions with some unrealistic demands. So now employers take on sub contractors such as my brother, a sparkie.
But as one on his own he is not allowed to take on an apprentice. This is just some of the problems now in the work place.

[Jim Dixon]

It will be the first warship built without an overspend , if the minister is true to his word. .

But, who believes him?

[robpage]

Le

But at the Uni there were many a student who would have been better suited at a Vocational education rather than studying for a degree that could prove worthless.
But as I know from speaking with many, peer pressure saw them in courses they did not want to do.
'My dad was an engineer and wants me to be one, but I wanted to be a chippie' that was often heard.

Bu.

we took on 1 apprentice a year and normally chose from 100 applicants , one year the lad did the first week of college , hen never went back , for his ist year block release , So I called him in , he came with his dad as requested , turns out , dad promised hi a motor bike to get to college on if he got an electrical apprenticeship , he got the bike , job done . Shame too late to advertise again , the place was lost that year

[Martyn Hammond]

Jim this was also the case in H&W not so log ago they had a ship in for repair and had to contract in Polish welders. I remember reading an online article from the Belfast Telegraph, that is how far our skills levels have dropped, bloody disgusting.

In the early 90’s H&W was building some panamax tankers or bulk carriers for, I think, China Ocean and the yard was under some management agreement with some large scandahooligan ship building outfit whose name I can’t remember. Only the mid sections of these vessels were actually built from plate in Belfast, whole units, including stern sections, engine room. parts of the accommodation and the bow were constructed in and towed from Polish yards for assembly in the H&W dry dock. The decline in commercial shipbuilding in the UK was well underway decades before that - remember Jimmy Reid and Upper Clyde shipbuilders, the subsequent British Shipbuilders along with incompetent management and communist lead unions.
With the decline of the RN, Vosper Thornycroft et al had to survive on odd jobs, Type 42 frigates etc and orders from foreign navies and that didn’t last too long

[Jim Dixon]

I too can remember shipbuilding names on the Clyde. Sir Ross Belch comes mind. A good practical man who knew his stuff.

[vic mcclymont]

Sir Ross Belch, was a Naval Architect who started his career in Fairfield, Govan, before moving to Lithgows, Port Glasgow. He was appointed MD of Lithgows and latterly MD of Scott Lithgow.
He was innovative man, he was behind the idea of building tankers in two half's and joining them together in tidal waters.
Vic
PS Fairfield was owned by Lithgows.

[Jim Dixon]

He also had a strong relationship with Atle Jebsen throughout his career. Use to visit him in Greenock and finally Largs. A gentleman and thoroughly nice person.