Appledore Shipbuilders News

Power specialist Royston has completed an extensive overhaul of diesel engines on a Britannia Aggregates’ owned and operated dredger, which extracts sand and gravel from the seabed.Engineers undertook the service work onboard the 100m, 3,610 gross tonnage Britannia Beaver, as part of a comprehensive refurbishment and maintenance program of essential power systems.The 1991 built A class dredger, which operates around the south-east coast of the UK, delivers aggregates to Brett-owned wharves around the South East of England…

Gibdock’s strategic location has been brought into sharp focus with the docking of HMS Scott, the largest vessel in the Royal Navy's Hydrographic Squadron, for a recent 19-day maintenance period at the Gibraltar yard. Work took place as part of the MOD UK’s Commercially Supported Shipping (CSS) Teams Through Life Support (TLS) contract with main contractor Babcock. The TLS contract, which runs to 2018, includes fleet time maintenance, design services and spares management. “Recent world events suggest that the Royal Navy will highly prize support from strategically-located facilities that can deliver vessels back into service on schedule and to high quality standards,” said Richard Beards, Gibdock Managing Director.

Workers from Appledore Shipbuilders, who face losing their jobs later this month, are meeting with senior civil servants today to urge the government to act. Appledore workers and union Amicus say that the government can save their jobs by reducing an equity payment and eliminating the indemnity guarantees for a lucrative order already won by the yard. Appledore workers and union representatives are meeting with senior civil servants representing Jackie Smith, the new Minister for Industry this afternoon to make their case. They say a contract, to build a unique barge to carry and erect sea wind turbines, would keep the yard open for at least eighteen months and allow it to win other orders.

ABB has signed a contract with Appledore Shipbuilders, U.K. to supply the electric power plants and Compact Azipod propulsion systems for two survey vessels for the Royal Navy. The vessels, which are scheduled for delivery in 2002 and 2003, will be supplied under a contract with Vosper Thornycroft (U.K.) acting as prime contractor for the U.K. Ministry of Defence, which includes provision of support for 20 years. The ABB package for the vessel pair will include generators for the main power plant and two PWM DTC-controlled Compact Azipod units rated at 1,700 kW each. The new system, which has never before been featured on a Royal Navy vessel…

Compelling design and operational arguments in favor of podded electric drives can be expected to transcend any negative impressions formed from the recent clutch of problems and complications experienced with such systems in certain cruise ship and ferry applications. Experience has shown that technical innovation in the maritime field has invariably been accompanied by early setbacks in some shape or form. In an industry where conservatism is the order of the day, and understandably so where assets are subjected to the rigors of the elements as well as the vicissitudes of the markets, those operators willing to be the standard bearers with new technology provide a beacon for the wider maritime community.

Wynn Marine has won the contract to supply the wiper systems to two new survey vessels being built at Appledore Shipbuilders in Devon, U.K. The survey vessels, HMS Enterprise and HMS Echo, and will be fitted with Wynn's Straight line wiper system. The Oceanographic Survey Vessels will be 90m in length with around 3,500 tonnes displacement and are due to enter service in 2002 and 2003. HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise will represent an enhancement of the capabilities of the Royal Navy's Survey Squadron. The new 3,500 tonne ships will be equipped with the latest survey systems, including multi-beam echo sounders and modern side sonars, as well as advanced navigation and communication systems.