No 8/98 13th January 1998
The Government of Gibraltar announced today that it had successfully concluded negotiations with Cammell Laird Holdings PLC on the principal terms for taking over the running of the Gibraltar ship yard. Heads of agreement have been signed and a full commercial agreement is envisaged to be put into place by the end of the month.
This follows the announcement made by the Government on the 3rd. November 1997 that it has appointed Cammell Laird Holdings PLC, a UK based ship repair and conversion company as the preferred operator for re-commencing business from the Gibraltar shipyard.
The Cammell Laird Group currently operates a shipyard in Birkenhead on the Wirral peninsula in the North West of England and specialise in ship conversion, ship repair and fabrication work including conversion and repair of passenger liners, ferries, merchant vessels and offshore platforms. The Cammell Laird Group operates a technical division and marine contracting division.
Cammell Laird will be taking over the Gibraltar shipyard within the next few weeks and recruitment of personnel will commence shortly. One of the terms negotiated by the Government of Gibraltar with Cammell Laird is that employment will be based on the same terms and conditions as those prevailing at Birkenhead. It is planned that operations at the year will start in February and that employment levels will grow progressively over the first year.
Cammell Laird envisages the establishment of a training programme which will be designed to ensure that there is the opportunity for further local recruitment to the yard as this becomes necessary.
The Hon Peter Montegriffo, Minister for Trade and Industry, said "The Government welcomes this important breakthrough which will see the immediate re-establishment of ship repair activities in Gibraltar and significant diversification into ship conversion. The reopening of the ship yard will be an important boost to the Gibraltar economy and it is vital that everyone involved provides the support necessary to ensure its success."