Ship repair firm moves to quash dumping fears:

A SHIP repair and scrapping company insists that everything will be done by the book when it sets up in Swansea.

In April, Swansea Drydocks Ltd will begin refurbishment work at the city's dry docks, which it has permission to use following a largely successful planning appeal.

The outgoing occupant, marine engineering firm Harris Pye Group, said it was "extremely disappointed" by the decision that Swansea Drydocks was pressing forward with its plans, claiming it would have invested a further £5million at the site.

Some concerned SA1 residents asked whether a ship repair and dismantling business was right for Swansea's new-look waterfront area.

But Swansea Drydocks business development manager Viv Sloan told the Post it had to abide by environmental regulations, and would need an operating permit from the Environment Agency as well as other marine certificates.

"The UK has the highest environmental standards in the world," she said. "We have to conform to them.

"The more successful you are, the more jobs it will create."

Mrs Sloan said impending environmental legislation would make its services more valuable.

The plan was, she said, to create a "cradle-to-grave" service for ship companies.

One potential client is the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

"The MoD has approved our ship recycling plans," said Ms Sloan. "We have had good feedback."

Swansea Drydocks will carry out repairs and refitting work, she said, as well as breaking up vessels and dealing with hazardous materials.

But she added that it was too early to say how much of its work would be ship dismantling and how much repairing.

Reputation:

"The amount of ships to recycle in the next two years is finite," said Ms Sloan. "If you get a good reputation for ship repairs, there is no limit."

She added that any vessels coming in for dismantling would be from the UK, or perhaps Europe, but not further afield.

When it originally applied for certificates of lawful use, Swansea Drydocks said it would invest £4 million in the site and create 85 jobs. Swansea Council turned down the application, prompting an appeal and subsequent planning inquiry.

Assembly-appointed inspector Ian Osborne upheld the appeal for the Prince of Wales dry dock, but dismissed the appeal for the nearby Phoenix Wharf.

Ms Sloan said Swansea Drydocks intended to submit a fresh application to use the latter site for ship recycling.

Recruitment of senior staff, meanwhile, was under way, she added..

Harris Pye Group, which took on several projects at the dry docks aware that there was prior interest in the site, said it had hoped to move its headquarters to the port, which is owned by Associated British Ports.

"We are naturally extremely disappointed, not only for ourselves but for a potential workforce of up to 200 people and 50 to 60 trainees per year who would have graduated from our training school," said Harris Pye managing director Mark Prendergast.

"We would like to thank all who supported our bid, and those who worked with us. They can take pride in the work they did on the Saga Pearl II (cruise liner) and on the other vessels that made use of the docks."

Swansea councillor Mervyn Jones said there were fears in the area about the dry docks becoming a "dumping ground" for old ships and potentially hazardous materials.

"My view is that I really don't think it's good for Swansea. I think it has more to offer as a port. My main concern is that people have paid £150,000 to £200,000 to live at the marina — near a ship breaking yard."

Source: By Richard Youle; richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

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