The Great British Shipbuilding Revival

[robpage]

Having for a brief time on MoD , shore base contracts , my despair at the job for the boys men who run them , makes me believe they can never work to a budget , they change specifications almost daily

[vic mcclymont]

Rob, when I worked for IBM it was similar to MOD.Two stories:-
IBM wanted a brand new computer centre built at Greenford, London, in nine months.
One of the Directors of the contractors would project manage the operation. Asked if he could deliver-Yes. From his point of view he would complete the building on time and in budget, provided IBM did not make any changes, which they were famous for. The building was completed on time.
At IBM Warwick, Crown House Engineering always won the big contracts for major changes without fail. Over the years I got to know the senior personnel in CHE. One day I asked the senior estimator, why do you always win the major contracts?, simple we only bid on costs, no profits. He then went to explain we know that on day one the contract will be changed, we make the money on the extras. He was correct, IM were always changing layouts, powers supplies etc.
Regards
Vic

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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.

He was a Director of Jebsens Holiday subsidiary company, amongst many others.
He may have been very nice socially, different in the yard when things went wrong.

[vic mcclymont]

Lewis, I worked for IBM in the middle seventies, a non union company. The Unions wanted the workforce to join the Union. Refusal by the company to recognise the union would result in a strike. Workforce rejected the Union proposals.
Japanese companies in the UK recognise the right of people to be members of a union, but do not recognise the union
vic

[j.sabourn]

Whatever happened to the concrete ship or ships they built during the war? Never did catch on...maybe the company Wimpys I worked for missed their place in history. JS

[robpage]

the jobs I did the quotes for went in at cost , variations and extras normally added 100% to the final account . the lack of decision by people watching their own back was incredible

[robpage]

a lot of the dutch canal houseboats have ferrocement concrete hulls ,, quite a few wartime hulls were sunk n the US as breakwaters

[Keith Tindell]

a lot of yachts were built of ferro, they were very strong, unless the outer core was damaged, and the ingress of water damaged the metal structure inside. Mainly welded rod and chicken wire, i have watched one being plastered up and faired off, very skilled job, kt

[Lewis McColl]

With this kind of technolgical know how the Great British ship building revival is certin to succeed.

https://youtu.be/dZLH9dEr3oI