Despite competition from other UK based ship recyclers, Swansea Drydocks has won the MOD competition to recycle the former HMS Cornwall, a Type 22 frigate of the Royal Navy.
The vessel was built in 1985 by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Glasgow, commissioned at Falmouth in 1988 and decommissioned in 2011 following a six-month deployment conducting counter-piracy operations east of Suez.
To win the contract, Swansea Drydocks was required to demonstrate their capabilities and resources; relevant experience and technical expertise; the mandatory permits, approvals and licences and those of its subcontractors; the competence to deliver a safe and environmentally sound ship recycling service and the ability to maximise the financial return from the ship’s metals, materials and equipment whilst minimising waste to landfill.
‘ Developing Swansea Drydocks into a world class ship repair and recycling facility has been a huge challenge. It’s taken us several years of hard work and significant investment to be in a position to win this tender .’ explained Karl Dunn, MD . ‘ As a result, we are beginning to achieve the goals we set for the business and we anticipate substantial growth over the next few years. ’
HMS Cornwall is currently berthed at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth and is anticipated to be towed to Swansea Drydocks during the autumn.
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Swansea Drydocks, September 5, 2013