Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: DickyD on January 22, 2012, 11:03:23 pm

Title: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: DickyD on January 22, 2012, 11:03:23 pm
BAE Systems is considering closing the historic Portsmouth dockyard in a move that would threaten up to 3,000 jobs.

The Hampshire based defence giant has brought in consultants to review its shipbuilding operations.

A decision on the future of the south coast base is expected within in the next three months, according to reports today.

Portsmouth is the most likely victim of a review of the group’s warship business, senior industry sources have been reported as saying, with a lack of orders after the two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

BAE employs about 1,500 at its Portsmouth yard with a further 1,500 in support roles. The city has a 500 year history of Naval shipbuilding.

The company also has yards on the Clyde, at Scotstoun and Govan, and at Portsmouth. All are working on hull sections of the carriers.

A BAE spokeswoman said: ''As part of our business planning activity, we are reviewing how best to retain the capability to deliver and support complex warships in the UK in the future.''

This would be in line with its commitments, she added.

''This work is ongoing and we will keep our employees and trade union representatives fully informed, as it progresses.''

Unions have called for urgent meetings with BAE Systems bosses.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9486160.Thousands_of_jobs_at_risk_from_closure_threat_to_Portsmouth_dockyard/
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: Xtian29 on January 22, 2012, 11:06:23 pm
It's a shame !   {:-{
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: pugwash on January 22, 2012, 11:20:35 pm
I could not beleive this when I saw it in the Times this morning.  What is worse if they do close the yard it will cost £100s of millions and because
the MoD signed a 15 yr agreement for work with Bae in 2009 it will be Mod and the taxpayer who will pick up the closure bill.
I know there is not much work at the present but they have to start planning and building the replacements for the type 23s very soon.
So soon there will be no yards in England and Wales and if Scotland goes independant does that mean our warships would be built in what would then
be a foreign country.  If that is the case, to hell with Bae, lets just get our ships built in France or Italy where labour might be cheaper.
That should start intersting discussion on the Forum

Geoff
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: Colin Bishop on January 22, 2012, 11:23:20 pm
Maybe a bit of sabre rattling on the part of BAE to concentrate governmental minds. The present Government does have a rather depressing tendency to put off making decisions wherever possible coupled with an inability to appreciate the long term view.

Once you lose manufacturing capacity and expertise it is very difficult to get it back, more so if what little you have left departs with an independent Scotland!

Might be cheaper to reinstate a couple of the cancelled Darings to keep things ticking over and retain the skills base but I suppose that would be asking too much of a Govrenment which is happy to double the budget for the Olympics opening ceremony despite the economic situation.

Colin
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: Shipmate60 on January 22, 2012, 11:33:27 pm
A bit of a "Scare" Title.
It is only BAe Systems saying they are looking into their operation.
You have to remember it was only recently that building started up in the Dockyard when Vospers moved in.
As Colin has said would it really be such a good move to Scotland in the present Independence climate and be classed as a "foreign" shipbuilder?

Bob
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: Colin Bishop on January 22, 2012, 11:45:37 pm
Loss of skills is a significant issue.

After WW1 there were huge cutbacks in the warship construction industry and when it became necessary to rearm to meet the Nazi threat the manufacturing base was hard pressed to meet the demand. One effect of this was the problems experienced with the 14 inch guns of the KGV class battleships, notably on Prince of Wales and KGV during the Bismarck affair. At one point Prince of Wales had only 3 guns out of 10 in action.

It was loss of skills that resulted in Queen Mary 2 being built in France and the current inability of the UK to build large merchant vessels on a competitive basis. As they say, once it's gone, it's gone! An inability to build our own warships is a terrible indictment of the UK Government.

Colin
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: Xtian29 on January 22, 2012, 11:56:53 pm
Good news for Argentina, Maggy is out of order and you have less and less capabilities with your Navy  :embarrassed:

Sorry for this sick humour
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: pettyofficernick on January 23, 2012, 12:34:35 am
Where is it all going to end???? >>:-( >>:-(
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: BarryM on January 23, 2012, 10:17:01 am
This is not just an issue affecting BAE yards in England. The two BAE yards on the Clyde are also being looked at with a view to possible closure of one of them as the carrier contract winds down.

Barry M
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: pugwash on January 23, 2012, 11:42:24 am
There are supposed to be 13 type 26 global combat frigates coming into service starting 2020 - not sure if the design is finalised yet
but surely building these will keep Bae and all the yards busy if the government will commit to the building programme
They are approx 5400 tons and will cost between 250 -300 million each so there should be plenty of work there.  If they don't start soon the type 23s
will be falling apart before they get them into service

Geoff
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: BarryM on January 23, 2012, 12:01:33 pm
I may be wrong - not unusual - but I believe the design contract has only just been awarded. Don't hold your breath if these ships have to compete with HS trains and another London Airport.

Barry M
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: pugwash on January 23, 2012, 12:34:13 pm
You are probably right Barry and the HS trains will be so useful for patrolling the Falkland Islands et al

Geoff
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: funtimefrankie on January 23, 2012, 12:50:50 pm
You are probably right Barry and the HS trains will be so useful for patrolling the Falkland Islands et al

Geoff
Or conversely, a warship is not much use for a quick trip to London :-))
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: pugwash on January 23, 2012, 01:15:33 pm
yes but £30+ billion  just to get there 30minutes quicker and you can guarantee the price will probably double
even at that price its a billion pounds a minute

Geoff
Title: Re: Portsmouth Dockyard Closure
Post by: funtimefrankie on January 23, 2012, 01:45:07 pm
Not advocating the HS2, just saying that you can not compare the two........................