UK partnership for major components

Thursday, Sep 02, 2010

A British shipbuilder aims to 'catapult' itself into the nuclear industry with a partnership to bid for module construction jobs. 

Cammell Laird boasts a large manufacturing base on the Mersey River near Liverpool where it primarily builds, repairs and refits ships. It can also undertake specialist electrical, thermal insulation and sheet metal work as well as heavy engineering. The firm is already involved in the UK's push for offshore wind power capacity and recently signed to partner with Nuvia for nuclear construction work.

"This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a relationship of towering achievement," said Cammell Laird chief executive John Syvret. "The nuclear sector, like the off shore renewables sector, presents huge growth potential for Cammell Laird."

The companies said they would "join forces to bid for contracts for the fabrication of heavy modules and components for new nuclear plants." While Cammell Laird will bring manufacturing capability, Nuvia will provide the nuclear expertise. That company traces its history back to the beginnings of the UK nuclear program but is now part of Soletanche Freyssinet, itself part of the Vinci construction group.

Key to the operation would be Cammell Laird's construction hall which covers some 40,000 square metres and can handle modules of up to 1000 tonnes. The company said "due to its ability to slipway launch as well as conventionally load-out or transport via road, the size of module that can be produced is usually only governed by the transport medium."

The pair said they were interested in modular construction work in the UK market and that preparation for bids was already underway.

Source: World Nuclear News