Overview
- Balaena confirmed on Monday that it has acquired APCL Group and that the Birkenhead site will be rebranded from Cammell Laird to Balaena Birkenhead.
- The takeover brings together Balaena’s existing sites in Gibraltar and Padstow with APCL operations to form five major yards reported to operate about 12 dry docks and more than 2,000 staff.
- Balaena says it will modernise facilities, expand ship repair and offshore fabrication capacity, add low-emission propulsion capability, and launch a national skills and apprenticeship programme.
- The GMB union and APCL leaders welcomed the sale as providing certainty for workers and a platform for jobs and training, while Balaena has pledged a 'business as usual' approach during transition.
- Actual investment, new work for the Royal Navy, and expanded commercial projects will depend on government procurement decisions and the outcome of the UK defence spending review so attention should focus on upcoming contract awards and the group’s project pipeline.