Cammell Laird welcomes Heathrow Airport delegation

Birkenhead shipyard and engineering company Cammell Laird hosted a delegation from Heathrow Airport last Friday, May 18.

The visit, accompanied by Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, is linked to Laird being longlisted as a pre-assembly hub for the proposed construction of Heathrow’s new £16bn third runway.

The firm is one of 65 shortlisted sites to be visited on a tour by Heathrow officials in the first half of 2018, headed by Heathrow’s chairman, Lord Deighton, ahead of opening a pre-qualification questionnaire process later this year.

Two sites operated by Cammell Laird – Campbeltown Road and the MEA Park Wirral Waters in Beaufort Road – are on the list to be reviewed.

Heathrow will be the first major infrastructure project in the UK to pioneer the large-scale use of logistics hubs – aiming to build as much of the project off-site as possible.

The hubs will work by pre-assembling components off-site before transporting them in consolidated loads to Heathrow as they are needed.

Heathrow says bidders will not only need to illustrate engineering prowess, they will also need to demonstrate a skilled and dedicated workforce, capability to collaborate on the nationwide project, and good connectivity allowing output to be easily transported to Heathrow.

Cammell Laird energy division’s managing director Jonathan Brown said the company has tabled a strong bid for Heathrow, as it looks to diversify into new sectors supplying large modular build structures and engineering services.

“Being shortlisted helps Cammell Laird ramp up awareness of its demonstrated capabilities for supply of plant to industries outside maritime,” he said.

“Heathrow’s expansion is just the type and size of engineering work we are targeting. With our unique facilities, highly skilled workforce and coastal location we can supply the Heathrow expansion project as well as sectors like nuclear new build, oil and gas, utilities, renewables and rail.

“Our bid is further strengthened by our close relationship with Peel and its ports and logistics infrastructure in Wirral, Liverpool and along Manchester Ship Canal.”

It is understood that if both parties are successful they will work together as a partnership.

Mr Brown said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Heathrow delegation.

“Heathrow expansion is a nationally significant project and we want to secure a role for our business and for the Liverpool City Region.

“Few other companies can match our history, innovation, highly skilled workforce, supply chain, facilities and our coastal location.

“We have a proven track record of being the primary contractor on major multi-million pound projects like the RRS Sir David Attenborough polar ship.

“Our bid is fully supported by our partnership with Peel and its ports and logistics infrastructure in Merseyside.”

The Birkenhead yard is currently building the £160m Sir David Attenborough polar research vessel.

Cammell Laird was part of another major pre-assembly operation when, in January 2010, the yard won a £50m contract to build the flight deck for the Royal Navy’s largest-ever warship, the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

In May 2012, the yard despatched five sections of the flight deck by sea. They took five days to sail to Rosyth, in Scotland, where the aircraft carrier was assembled.

The 65 sites were longlisted by Heathrow from an initial 121 applications in November 2017.

Heathrow representatives will visit all longlisted locations in the first half of 2018, and aim to open a pre-qualification questionnaire process later this year.

Lord Deighton, chairman at Heathrow Airport, said: “Heathrow Expansion is a once in a generation opportunity to transform the UK construction industry, build for the future and deliver a lasting skills legacy for future generations.

“All of this comes at a pivotal time for our country, as it prepares itself to leave the EU and where we need to build for our future in both travel and trade.

“An expanded Heathrow is for all of Britain and the logistics hubs are instrumental in our aim to ensure that expansion spreads the huge potential of its £187bn in economic benefits across the UK, whilst minimising the impact on the airport’s local communities.

“Off-site construction is an innovative way for these balances to be met and we can’t wait to see for ourselves the opportunity we have in working with the best businesses in the country.”