News

Monday 15 March 2010

£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.

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."

Read more at thisissouthwales.co.uk

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