Tyneside shipyard completes crucial parts for Royal Navy's new Type 26 frigates

Workers at a Tyneside shipyard have completed key components for one of the Royal Navy's new submarine hunter frigates.

A&P Tyne, which operates England's largest dry dock at Hebburn, South Tyneside, has announced the completion of four stern end units for the Type 26 Ship 3, HMS Belfast. The company is supplying BAE Systems, which is building eight ships expected to enter service between 2028 and 2035.

As part of the APCL Group with Cammell Laid, A&P spent 10 months fabricating the components, which have now been delivered to BAE's Govan facility on the River Clyde.

The four steel structures weigh a total of 220-tonnes and include welded hot work items - showcasing the capabilities at Hebburn, including CNC machinery, sub-assembly bays, a panel line, and its main assembly hall. Ian Douglas, managing director of A&P Tyne, said: "A&P Tyne has completed block build units for some of the most significant ship building projects in recent time – including the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers and the RRS Sir David Attenborough. A&P Tyne is delighted to have delivered units for Ship No3, HMS Belfast, of the Type 26 frigates and build on our collaboration with BAE Systems.

David McGinley, APCL CEO, commented: "We are extremely proud to be playing such a significant role in the production of vessels which will help form the backbone of our nation's future defence. Our skilled workforce, along with our valued apprentices, have been working with their customary professionalism and dedication to ensure this work has been completed to the very highest standards."

The latest update from A&P's Tyneside yard comes after its 2023 results, released earlier this year, revealed a 6% increase in turnover to £100.2m – a promising development as occupancy levels at the Hebburn facility saw an uptick, reports Business Live.

A&P is concentrating its efforts on the Tyneside and Falmouth yards, eyeing a robust pipeline of military contracts in the future. The Tyne's operations have encompassed the company's biggest project to date, the Dreadnought Class submarines for BAE Systems, bolstered by repeated business from clientele requiring smaller dredging and offshore support vessels.

Over in Falmouth, meanwhile, increased revenue has been attributed to vigorous towage activity and enhanced cargo handling. This South West establishment delivered a substantial refit of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary HMS Lyme Bay and undertook significant tasks on HMS Scott.