Cammel Laird was awarded a major UK Ministry of Defence ship refit contract involving the mid life extension of the diesel electric powered Oceanographic Research Vessel RMAS Newton, originally built in 1976 by Scotts Shipbuilding Co, Greenock Scotland. Birkenhead based marine and engineering services company, Ocean Fleets Limited were awarded, after competition a circa $7.5 million prime contract by the UK MoD, to undertake the complete design of the ship life extension package, the development of a detailed specification, the procurement of all new equipment, the competitive tender for a shipyard to undertake the refit package and the project management of the refit itself.