Plea to UK Government to Get On With Reopening of Appledore Shipyard

24th February 2020

Work has continued ever since to reopen the historic UK Appledore shipyard (Afloat adds which built its last vessel in 2018 for the Irish Naval Service), but as of yet, no date for any reopening has been announced. Credit: DevonLive-twitter

Councillors in Devon have urged the UK Government to hurry up and get a deal over the line to reopen Appledore Shipyard.

Despite a union-led protest march, a 9,500-strong petition and the efforts of local MPs, the north Devon shipyard closed on March 15, 2019, when Babcock International’s lease expired.

Work has continued ever since to reopen the historic shipyard, but as of yet, no date for any reopening has been announced.

More on this story Devon Live reports including footage of the shipyard's covered building hall, the Bidna Yard.

Afloat adds the 118m dry-dock is where Babcock built their last vessel in 2018, the Irish Naval Service LÉ George Bernard Shaw (as pictured) berthed at the shipyard's Newquay Yard. This fit-out facility was completed in 1970.

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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