BAE lands Spanish sub job

BAE?s Barrow shipyard in England has won its first export order in 30 years, with a multi-million pound deal to make sections for Spanish submarines. The yard will build two domed ends for the pressure hulls of each of an initial four new S80 Scorpene class submarines. Another four could follow on.

The deal, which was won against competition from France, Germany and the United States, has been hailed as “a real coup” and helps secure Barrow jobs. It is not expected to create new ones. The export breakthrough came after Barrow yard was forced to buy a giant £2m, 2,500-tonne capacity press, to make much larger dome ends for future Astute class nuclear-powered subs for the Royal Navy.

It was bought from the former supplier, Motherwell Bridge in Scotland, and then reassembled in Barrow to secure future supplies. BAE will fabricate and assemble fore and aft pressure hull domes while it will provide technical support and assistance in other aspects of pressure hull fabrication to Navantia as the overall S80 programme develops. The first two boat sets will be fully welded and completed in Barrow. The last two will be partly assembled and welded in Barrow, with final welding set to take place in Navantia?s facilities in Cartagena, Spain, with support from BAE as required.