Big fish for vessel recycler Swansea Drydocks

United Kingdom – Welsh ship dismantler Swansea Drydocks has been awarded a contract by the UK’s Ministry of Defence to scrap and recycle the former HMS Cornwall, a 28-year-old Royal Navy frigate.

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’.

The company’s managing director Karl Dunn comments: ‘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. 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, built in 1985, was decommissioned in 2011 following a six-month deployment conducting counter-piracy operations east of Suez. The vessel will be towed to Swansea Drydocks during the autumn.

For more information, visit: www.swanseadrydocks.com