Birkenhead company set to build cutting edge arctic vessel

Minister of State for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson announced today that the preferred bidder to build a new polar research vessel is Birkenhead based ship builders Cammell Laird.

Over the coming weeks detailed discussions with Cammell Laird will be held and, pending a successful outcome of these discussions, the contract will be placed in November with delivery of the ship is expected in 2018.

The £200 million pound vessel will be a massive boost to the local economy with a potential to create jobs and investment.

The new ice-strengthened ship will be operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), on behalf of NERC, and will provide a state-of-the-art platform for collaborative research programmes involving UK and overseas partners.

According to the British Arctic Survey it will be a multi-purpose vessel for multi-disciplinary research cruises in Antarctica and in the Arctic, and will provide logistical support for land-based polar science.