Three Baltic Pipe and Cable Incidents "are related", Estonia Says
The three incidents that resulted in damage to a gas pipeline and two telecom cables between Estonia, Finland and Sweden "are related", Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.Finnish police leading the pipeline investigation have named the Hong Kong-flagged container carrier NewNew Polar Bear as the prime suspect in damaging the Balticconnector Finland-Estonia gas pipeline early on Oct. 8.A large anchor was found near the pipeline, and the investigators believe the pipe was…
Harland & Wolff to Restore HMS Quorn Mine-hunter
Harland & Wolff's Appledore site in the UK's southwest has won a £55 million (around $65 million) contract to regenerate a former Royal Navy mine-hunting vessel, HMS Quorn. "On behalf of the Lithuanian Government, the Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) awarded the contract that will see HMS Quorn renovated and restored, bolstering NATO maritime capability in Europe," the UK Ministry of Defence said Thursday."Supporting ambitions to bolster British shipbuilding, laid out in the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh, the regeneration will support 100 jobs at the south-west shipyard.
Thales Reactivates Minehunters for Lithuanian Navy
Following an extensive Thales UK-led refurbishment and reactivation program, the Lithuanian Navy has formally accepted and commissioned two former Royal Navy minehunters into its fleet. In a ceremony at the Klaipeda naval base, LNS Skalvis and LNS Kuršis were commissioned into the fleet. Formerly the Royal Navy Hunt-class ships Dulverton and Cottesmore, the two warships are now fitted with a world-class minehunting capability from Thales, including new sonar, command and control, propulsion, degaussing, mine disposal and machinery control and surveillance systems. Thales was awarded the contract by the Disposals Services Authority (DSA) of the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) to refit the two former British minehunters for delivery to the Lithuanians.
Strong 2010 Forecast for A&P After Buyout
A&P Group, a UK commercial ship conversion and repair company now headquartered in Cardiff, moves into 2010 with a strong order book for projects ranging from defence to sustainable energy. A&P was taken over last July by the Cardiff-based Bailey Group, headed by property developer and entrepreneur Paul Bailey. He previously held a 50 per cent stake in A&P, which has moved to new corporate offices at Cardiff Gate. The shipping group, with UK sites at Tyne, Tees and Falmouth, has scored major successes this year, including a $88.3m Ministry of Defence contract and the refit and conversion of a medical ship – the largest single project of its kind in Royal Fleet Auxiliary history.
