Ship build call picks up steam
Sea boss says buy British
A TOP maritime industry chief today throws his weight behind calls for Royal Navy supply vessels to be built in Britain.
Pressure is mounting on ministers to give the £1.5billion deal for three Fleet Solid Support ships to a UK group.
At least 2,500 skilled, wellpaid jobs would be secured by keeping the contract in Britain, campaigners say.
Maritime UK director Ben Murray told the Mirror the Government should snub cheaper bids from foreign firms.
Highlighting Boris Johnson’s promise to “level-up”, he said: “There is no better tool or way of making real this ‘levelling up’ commitment than supporting the shipbuilding industry.”
For national security reasons, Royal Navy warships can only be built in the UK.
But supply ships are part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and so can be built abroad.
The competition for the contract was initially offered worldwide, with companies from Italy, Spain, Japan and South Korea shortlisted, along with a UK consortium. The British team, backed by the
Keep
Britain Afloat campaign, includes Babcock, BAE Systems, Cammell Laird and Rolls-Royce.
The tendering process was halted suddenly in November, raising hopes the terms could be reset to boost British firms’ chances of winning the deal.
But earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence triggered fresh dismay when foreign firms were invited to take part in early plans to build the vessels.
Mr Murray added that the Government’s focus on the simple purchase price of the vessels ignored the economic benefits of buying British.
He said: “The overall spillover and wider supply chain benefit is significant. You’re going to have fewer people unemployed because it creates jobs.
“The real magic is when a skills base is developed and companies become more competitive because they have learned new techniques and built new relationships. They can go out and compete.”
NOW, more than ever, we should support British jobs and British industries.
So it defies all logic that the Government is considering handing the contract to build a fleet of Navy support ships to an overseas firm.
This £1.5billion order would secure at least 2,500 skilled jobs in areas that are crying out for support and investment.
Calls for the contract to go to UK shipyards are rightly being backed by industry chiefs, Labour and the unions.
Boris Johnson was happy this week to wade into the debate on Rule Britannia!
If the Prime Minister wants to show true patriotism he should do so in a way that makes sense, by ensuring these boats are built here.