News story

MOD continues to support regeneration of Portsmouth Naval Base

Defence Secretary has shortlisted 3 companies to make use of the ship halls at HMNB Portsmouth supporting jobs and growth in the region.

• From: Ministry of Defence, The Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon and The Rt Hon George Osborne
• Published: 30 January 2015

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Portsmouth Dockyard

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has today announced that BAE Systems, Burgess Marine, and Magma Structures have been shortlisted to make use of the ship halls at Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Portsmouth.

This will help Portsmouth keep its maritime and engineering expertise and traditions.

Negotiations will be taken forward over the coming weeks to determine which company or companies will occupy the facilities.

HMS Defender sails into HM Naval Base Portsmouth for the first time [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Chris Mumby, Crown copyright]

BAE Systems’ proposal would see its Maritime Services business use the facility, under the recently signed Maritime Support Delivery Framework contract, to improve the maintenance programme of the Royal Navy’s Hunt class mine countermeasures vessels.

This would sustain around 200 jobs in Portsmouth and free capacity elsewhere on the base to develop commercial ship repair work.

Burgess Marine proposes to use the facilities to construct and fit luxury yachts. It estimates it could create around 200 jobs in the region.

Magma Structures is a specialist in the design and manufacture of large, complex composite structures, currently working in the marine, oil and gas, defence and construction sectors.

It is looking to re-locate from its current base in Portsmouth to a larger waterside location.

A new manufacturing base would secure Magma’s workforce of around 180 in the city with the potential for future employment growth.

Able Seaman Peter Smith meets the Chancellor George Osborne on board HMS Defender in Portsmouth [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Nicky Wilson RN, Crown copyright]

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

The short-listing of 3 companies is a significant step forward in getting the ship halls back to work.

It offers the opportunity to open up the shipyard to more firms providing high skilled jobs.

This is an exciting time of regeneration for Portsmouth Naval Base, with the MOD investing £98 million over the past year.

This will help ensure that Portsmouth retains its maritime engineering expertise and traditions.

The MOD has been committed to ensuring that the ship halls are used in the most effective way, to support jobs and growth in the region after another business unit of BAE Systems announced in 2013 that it would move its shipbuilding operations from the site.

Of those who previously worked in the ship halls, approximately 175 have been re-employed in other parts of BAE Systems, the majority within their Maritime Services division that supports Portsmouth Naval Base operations and ship maintenance.

A further 585 voluntarily left to take employment elsewhere. 160 compulsory redundancy notices have been issued to date.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has also visited Portsmouth today.

During his visit he announced a £100 million investment in HMNB Portsmouth to develop the docks ahead of the arrival of the UK’s 2 new aircraft carriers.

He also announced a further £5 million of Libor funding will be awarded to support the welfare and heritage of the Royal Navy at home and deployed. The £5 million will go towards:

• supporting the Royal Navy Museum and the Royal Naval Heritage Flying Trust with £1 million for significant projects such as the delivery of LCT 7074 (World War II landing craft) and to ensure the continued flying of the Swordfish historic flight, the first Carrier borne aircraft for the Royal Navy
• £1 million for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity to support the Naval Families Federation and to provide support to deploying ships
• £1 million to refurbish the Warrant Officers Mess in HMS Sultan and renovate Navy Mews to provide flats so that families can spend time with their loved ones in Portsmouth if they are deploying
• £2 million for the Drumfork Club refurbishment, the club, which is at the centre of family life in Helensburgh (Faslane), supports primarily submarine families while they are away on patrol and is the focal point for all families who live in married quarters in Faslane

Published 30 January 2015