TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Friday November 11, 1994 Shipyard lands crucial order
Campbeltown Shipyard has seen off intense international competition to land a lucrative £1.25 million contract to design and build a new state-of-the-art trawler – securing the future of the yard.
The news will see the workforce trebling to at least 70, sweeping away the gloom that had hung over the business. Delighted Campbeltown Shipyard Ltd chief executive
John Shannon told The Campbeltown Courier this week: ‘This is the one we’ve been waiting for!’
And the yard is also exploring several other possible contracts.
The yard will build the new trawler for George Moodie and Sons Trawlers Ltd of Longniddry, East Lothian, and is expected to be ready for launch next September.
The new trawler – the first of a new class of vessel designed by the Campbeltown yard for the Scottish fishing fleet –- will be 25.5 metres long, taking advantage of the latest advances in navigational, electronics and communications technology. It also incorporates a high standard of accommodation for its 10 crew.
Designed to operate in deep water, the trawler will have a 1,000 horsepower engine, as well as powerful deck equipment.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, John Shannon said: ‘Securing this important trawler contract in competition with home and foreign yards not only reflects our long and happy association with the Moodie family, but also the strong market edge we have gained in this specialist small vessel market.
‘The yard is now at an advanced level of negotiation for two further new construction contracts, and at an advanced design stage for a new range of vessels whose market potential will ensure job continuity for the expanded Campbeltown workforce for many years to come.
‘It took almost six months of tough negotiations, and justifies the faith our parent company Lithgows has had in the yard and the workforce. This gives Campbeltown the chance to prove it can compete, and gives the yard a solid future.’
Mr Alistair Moodie, of George Moodie and Sons Trawlers Ltd commented: ‘Having gone through a long process of evaluating and comparing various offer from home and overseas yards - including those in Poland and Spain - it gives us particular satisfaction that the successful tender was from a British yard.
‘That it has been won by Campbeltown Shipyard is an added advantage as it allows us not only to renew our earlier happy association with the yard but also to benefit from their sound craftsmanship and shipbuilding capability.’