Latest news with #APCLCammellLaird
ITV News
27-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Skeleton of new Mersey Ferry complete as Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram sees funnel lowered into place
The skeleton of the first new Mersey ferry for 60 years is now complete after the funnel was lowered into place. The last part of the Royal Daffodil's high-tech superstructure was completed at a special ceremony at Cammell Laird Shipyard in Birkenhead, with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram watching on. The funnel is 3.6 metres tall and, weighing in at around 2.5 tonnes, will eventually be painted red in line with the world-famous Mersey Ferries' traditional red, white and black colour scheme. Following this vital milestone all the mechanical and electric services will be added to bring the ferry into operation, and the interior of the boat will be fitted out, as well as the internal and external painting. The Royal Daffodil is due to take to the water in 2026 and will be the first new addition to the Mersey Ferries fleet since the 1960s. With state-of-the-art propulsion systems it will aim to be greener than its predecessors, offering improved environmental performance, greater accessibility, and enhanced comfort for passengers. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: 'The Mersey Ferries are more than just a way to get from A to B – they're a symbol of our identity, heritage, and pride. "Generations have grown up with them, and I'm determined to ensure they remain part of our future, too. 'Today's milestone isn't just about lowering a funnel – it's about raising expectations for what transport in our region can be: cleaner, greener, and built right here in our city region by local workers. "The new Royal Daffodil will carry the spirit of the Mersey with her, and – as my friend Gerry Marsden once said – I can't wait to see this Ferry 'Cross the Mersey.' The funnel is a crucial component of the ship, allowing exhaust from the three main engines to be safely expelled while supporting ventilation of the engine spaces. Historic Wirral shipbuilder Cammell Laird has played a strategic role in UK shipbuilding for the past 200 years, and is constructing the £26m Royal Daffodil on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. David McGinley, CEO of APCL Group, said: 'Today marks a significant milestone in what is a landmark project, not just for APCL Cammell Laird but for shipbuilding in the wider Merseyside region. "The installation of the funnel signals the completion of the Royal Daffodil's steel structure and brings us one step closer to delivering a vessel that combines innovation, heritage, and sustainability. 'This ferry is being built by our local workforce and apprentices, using local skills that has gone into every stage of its construction.' 'We look forward to completing the construction of the ferry and launching her on the river Mersey.' John Drummond, Project Director at APCL Cammell Laird, said: 'Being entrusted with building the first new Mersey Ferry in over 60 years is a real honour – and a responsibility we take seriously. 'As we continue with the next phase of the build, including mechanical systems and interior fit out, we look forward to seeing this iconic vessel take to the water and serve future generations of passengers across the Mersey.'
STV News
25-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
Ferguson Marine loses out on another ferries contract
Scotland's nationalised shipyard Ferguson Marine has lost out on yet another contract to build new vessels – this time for Western Ferries. On Friday, the multi-million pound contract to build two new small vessels for the Western Ferries fleet was awarded to the APCL Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, England. David Dishon, chief financial officer at Ferguson Marine, said the news was 'disappointing'. He added: 'Ferguson Marine remains focused on securing new work from a range of sources to build its pipeline.' The two new River Clyde ferries are intended to operate on the Gourock to Dunoon route and reduce the average age of the Western Ferries fleet. Construction will begin shortly with both vessels due to be delivered to the Firth of Clyde in autumn 2026. Western Ferries managing director Gordon Ross said the decision to appoint Cammell Laird over Ferguson's followed a highly competitive process. 'APCL Cammell Laird was selected as the preferred bidder due to the strength of its proposal, demonstrating exceptional value in cost, expertise, and the quality of its shipbuilding facilities,' Mr Ross said. 'Their bid was immensely strong on all fronts, and with their heritage of maritime excellence, we are confident that they will deliver vessels of the highest quality, on time and on budget.' David McGinley, group CEO of APCL Group welcomed the announcement of this latest contract with Western Ferries. 'This contract marks the next major milestone in APCL Group being recognised as the UK's leading commercial shipbuilder,' he said. 'Continued orders from British companies to British shipyards ensure that the UK remains as a leader of commercial shipbuilding on the world stage.' The announcement on Friday marks the second time in two months that Ferguson Marine has been passed over for a new ferries contract. In March, the company lost out on a contract for seven new CalMac ferries to a shipbuilding firm in Poland. Mr Dishon from Ferguson Marine added: 'We are a nation with a proud shipbuilding heritage, it's great to see private investment into the build of new ferries, something vitally important to our economy and sector. 'We want to thank Western Ferries for the opportunity to bid and congratulate Cammell Laird on being selected as the preferred bidder. We wish both companies every success and hope to continue our long-standing working relationship with Western Ferries in the future.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Mersey shipyard to build new vessels for CalMac rival
Western, which has built a strong reputation for the reliability of its frequent Gourock to Dunoon service, expects both new vessels to be delivered to the Firth of Clyde in the autumn of 2016. The new additions will lower the average age of the Western fleet to just over six years when they come into service. Privately owned Western has a four-strong fleet which operates a frequent shuttle service between McInroy's Point in Gourock and Hunter's Quay in Dunoon. It runs around 32,000 sailings of the 20-minute crossing per year, with sailings taking place 365 days per year. Its decision to name APCL Cammell Laird as preferred bidder for its next two ferries builds on a successful relationship between the two parties, which was established in 2013 when the shipyard built, designed, and delivered the Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay for the company. Western, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, declared the vessels have since proven to be 'stalwarts' of its fleet, with their 'proven reliability and, importantly, commercial performance' key factors in confirming APCL Cammell Laird as preferred bidder. Western managing director Gordon Ross said: 'Western Ferries is pleased to announce the preferred bidder statement of a new vessel construction contract to leading UK shipbuilder APCL Cammell Laird, reinforcing a strong and trusted partnership rooted in British maritime excellence. 'APCL Cammell Laird was selected as the preferred bidder due to the strength of its proposal, demonstrating exceptional value in cost, expertise, and the quality of its shipbuilding facilities. Their bid was immensely strong on all fronts, and with their heritage of maritime excellence, we are confident that they will deliver vessels of the highest quality, on time and on budget.' The shipbuilder, which part of the APCL Group, has secured the work for Western as it moves into the final stages of constructing the latest Mersey Ferry. The company built the RRS Sir David Attenborough and along with the wider APCL Group is delivering units for HMS Belfast Ship 3 and HMS Birmingham Ship 4 of the new Type 26 class of frigates. These programmes are being delivered on behalf of BAE. David McGinley, group chief executive of APCL Group, said: 'APCL Group welcomes the announcement of this latest contract with Western Ferries, further developing the partnership between both companies. 'We would like to thank Western Ferries for its ongoing confidence in our facilities and our shipbuilding capabilities. This contract marks the next major milestone in APCL Group being recognised as the UK's leading commercial shipbuilder. 'Continued orders from British companies to British shipyards ensure that the UK remains as a leader of commercial shipbuilding on the world stage.' The latest accounts for Western Ferries (Clyde), published in December, showed an increase in pre-tax profits to £2.87 million for the year to March 31, 2024, up from £2m the year prior. Speaking to The Herald at the time, Mr Ross said although profits increased Western continued to be in recovery mode following the Covid-19 pandemic, which had a huge impact on tourism in the Cowal peninsula and wider Argyll and Bute region. The company has long-held ambitions to operate other routes on Scotland's west coast, but to date has been thwarted because of CalMac's long-running contract with Transport Scotland to run the entire Clyde and Hebrides network.
