Naval Construction
Barrow in Furness hasone of the largest Shipyards in the UK. Shipbuilding has taken place since 1872.
Barrow is home of BAE SYSTEMS Submarines Solutions, part of BAE SYSTEMS.Their Barrow Shipyard employs over4,791 people directly.
Furness Enterprise objective has always been to help companies maximise jobs and investment in Furness, we believe thatthe shipyard needs a balance of surface warship and submarine work to sustain its long term future.
In the video you can watch the launch of HMS Astute.
BAE SYSTEMS offers a world-class capability in designing and building ships and submarines for the world's navies, along with their communication, navigation and protection systems, missiles and torpedoes. Current programmes underway at Barrow include the
- design and build of four new Astute Class submarines under U.K. government contracts
- concept work on successor submarines
- work on the future aircraft carriers.
- export work for a Spanish company
BAE operate a submarine building "Centre of Excellence", at Barrow which embraces shipways, docks and extensive test facilities a unique design, build and assembly capability in Devonshire Dock Halls.
BAE SYSTEMS 169 acre site includes the Devonshire Dock Hall, with build areas cover 142m x 15m x 29m.It is served by a 24,300 tonne shiplift measuring 162m x 22m and adjacent Wet dock of 136m x 42m.
2740m of outfit quay length exist at Barrow.
There is alsoa superberth of 270m x 100m launching to Walney Channel.
In recent years BAE have completed the following vessels at Barrow:
2 Landing Platform Dock ships
Nuclear powered "Astute" class attack submarines
4 Nuclear powered ‘Vanguard’ class submarines
4 Clean product tanker ships for James Fisher & Sons Group
1 Auxiliary Oiler ship for the Royal Navy
Diesel electric submarines for the Canadian Navy
The operations based within Barrow offer:
- The UK’s most extensive Submarine and Warship Design Capability
- Design Authority, Assurance and Integrated Design Team
- Detailed Design Resource
- Combat Systems Engineering
- Nuclear/ Ship Safety Case
- Project Management and Planning
- Supply Chain Management
- Integration, Test and Commissioning
- Production Team
- Warship Through life Support
BAE Systems also plays a leading role in the North West, where it sits at the heart of a defence cluster of national importance. With an annual turnover of £4bn (broadly one third of the company total) and sustaining more than 35,000 jobs in the area, BAE Systems North West sites are key to both the overall success of the company and to our nation's ability to defend itself.
KEEP OUR FUTURE AFLOAT
A trade union led 'Keep our Future Afloat' campaign was formed in Barrow in April 2004. It lobbies for a sustained flow of naval shipbuilding and submarine orders. Updates of the lobby progress can be seen on the website www.navalshipbuilding.co.uk and www.navalunderseawarfare.co.uk
