Sluggish shipbuilding

sir – Britain’s marine business (Letters, October 15) has not developed like that of our competitors across the North Sea and elsewhere, primarily because it has not been understood by government for decades.

Shipbuilding involves procurement, integration, scheduling and assembly of many parts and systems. The value of a modern specialist ship is derived from the contents being more valuable than the hull. The suppliers of the contents vary in size and stretch across Britain, so the greater value is transferred into the supply chain, whether it is design, project management, hydraulics, refrigeration, compressors or electrical distribution panels. A specialist ship typically will last 30 years, so support from suppliers will also last that time.

Apart from naval ships, shipbuilding in Britain has been almost entirely ignored. This need not be so. Regular orders from the Government for research and support ships will ensure that subcontractors continue to thrive, and lead to export business for their specialities. Stop-start is commercially unsustainable and creates extra costs for naval ships built in Britain.

Government procurement decisions must take account of the benefits of employment, skill retention and development, the countrywide supply chain and taxation. Making decisions based solely on the tendered cost from somewhere else mightily disadvantages this country.

Whether classified as warships or not, the Fleet Solid Support Ships that have been considered for some time should be built in Britain.

Gregory Darling

Co-chair, Marine Industries Leadership Council Swannington, Norfolk