Cammell Laird Cuts Another 71

Struggling shipbuilder Cammell Laird Plc, which has entered into receivership, is to cut a further 71 jobs in Britain on the back of over 600 previously announced redundancies. A spokeswoman for accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), acting as receivers for the group, said that the latest job cuts had arisen after the shipbuilder completed work on existing contracts. Cammell Laird, whose main yard was established in 1824, called in the receivers after a series of cancelled orders hit its finances, causing it to suspend trading in its shares. The decline in its fortunes marked a further fall in Britain's once-proud shipbuilding industry. The PwC spokeswoman said 61 jobs would go at its plant in Birkenhead, northwest England, while 10 jobs would be cut at Teesside, in the northeast region of the country. Cammell has a current U.K. workforce of around 700. PwC is currently trying to complete the sale of Cammell's three yards at Birkenhead, Teesside and Tyneside, in northeast England. - (Reuters)