£4m plan for ship breaking firm at Swansea docks
BROKEN barges, past-their-best hovercrafts and old submarines could end their days in Swansea, under £4 million plans to breathe new life into the city's docks.
A company called Swansea Drydocks aims to invest the money in the ship repair, recycling and breaking venture, and create 85 new skilled jobs.
It has the backing of Swansea port owner, Associated British Ports (ABP), and has applied to Swansea Council for a certificate of lawfulness to prepare the way for operations to begin.
The company, whose registered office is in Walter Road, hopes to start work this year.
It said the docks had been unable to sustain permanent, full-time jobs in the past decade because of a weak ship repair market, but said there was a growing demand in Europe for "environmentally responsible ship recycling facilities".
The firm would need a permit from the Environment Agency, and said hazardous materials would be removed under strictly controlled procedures and sent off for specialist recycling or disposal.
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A company spokeswoman said it was pumping £4 million into the venture.
"Swansea Drydocks' significant investment will provide many benefits to Swansea," she said. "It will create a world class ship repair and recycling facility that conforms to the standards for quality, environment, health and safety, ship recycling and international maritime organisation standards.
"It will also create substantial exports abroad.
"Most importantly, it will recruit, train and continuously develop a multi- skilled team of around 85 employees, whose activities will also create new jobs among suppliers in Swansea." If given the go-ahead, the company will occupy Phoenix Wharf and the Prince of Wales Dock, where "marine units" will be repaired, or stripped down, recycled and broken up.
Marine units include ships, submarines, submersibles, hover and amphibious craft, barges, floating docks, caissons, pontoons, platforms, rigs, plant and machinery. Broken-up parts will be taken away by ship, train or lorry.
ABP estates manager Huw Turner said it supported the scheme. It comes amid a revival of shipping activities in the docks.
Marine engineering firm Harris Pye has recently completed a £20 million cruise liner refit at the dry docks and worked on the new Swansea-Cork ferry.
Managing director Mark Prendergast said it would like to continue its operations there, but added: "We are second in the queue."
richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk
24 Comments
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by jeffery, dirtytown
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 6:37PM
“Philip Swansea
watch making is now electronic based so look at micro machining , they now make hundreds of parts from cogs to ecapement levers in one go. Look to modern skills, stop living in the past, study something worth studying. I can still cut a screw thread or ream a hole but I can also draw 25 or more transitors on a hair from your head. Bring skilled jobs to Wales and not the unskilled like ship dismantling, Newport has cornered the recycling market , did you see that program”
by Philip, Swansea
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 12:47AM
“@Jeffery, dirty town. I did much of my studies involving lathes under supervision of people who used to work the old tick-tock. If you think I got away with not working the machines myself you are only kidding yourself!”
by jeffery, dirtytown
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 7:31PM
“Philip, Swansea
I see the problem. I was a time served fitter/turner who actually did but you just study . I moved on from working with my hands to working with my head after a bit of extra study. Moved from the steel industry to the electronics industry, Still think ship breaking is unskilled and not needed here.”
by Philip, Swansea
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 4:39PM
“Jeffery, Dirty town- Many of the jobs you speak of are no longer skilled. The jobs of metal fabrication, lathe work and milling are largely replaced by the monitoring of machines and simple maintenance. Automated machinery has replaced the skilled craftsman. Having spent much time with lathes and milling machines as part of my studies I appreciate the skill and experience than faded away when the jobs went. But when you look at the (sometimes unfairly) quality reputation of past British manufacturing you can understand why we've been switched to call centres and warehousing.”
by Green or Mean, Swansea West
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:31AM
“Ship repair is highly skilled work and pays good wages. Ship braking is a bit more involved than a car brakers. Swansea needs to wake up and smell the roses and embrace the oppertunity.”