Cammell Laird ship yard set to build £200 million Polar Research ship

The Government announced that Cammell Laird in Birkenhead has been selected as the preferred bidder to build a state-of-the-art £200 million polar research ship.

The ship will maintain the UK’s position firmly at the forefront of climate and ocean research.

The decision follows a 12 month competitive tender process that involved bids from companies in the UK, Europe and the Far East. The winning project will create jobs and apprenticeships and provide a significant economic boost to Merseyside.

The shipyard is expected to cut steel in autumn 2016 and deliver the next generation polar research vessel ready for operation by 2019.

The MP for Orpington and Minister of State for Universities and Science Jo Johnson tweeted the announcement: