Multi-million pound shipbuilding contract awarded

摘要

TS Jack Petchey, the new ￡2.5 million training ship for young people, will be constructed by Bridgend Boat Co at its Mount Batten yard over a two-year period. The vessel will enter service in spring 2010 and will be based at the Royal Naval Reserve Training Centre, HMS President, close to Tower Bridge in the heart of London. The design of the new ship is very similar to the charity's existing power-training ship, TS John Jerwood. The provision of a sister ship to TS John Jerwood will considerably increase the charity's capacity to offer young people, from the age of 12, a six-day voyage at sea. Over an anticipated 25-year lifespan, the new 24m power vessel will be home to some 16,000 young people and 3000 adult volunteers who will learn skills such as engineering, electronic communication and chart systems, cook/steward, as well as vigilance, discipline, and social and communication skills for working in a team. Mike Cornish, chief executive of the Marine Society & Sea Cadets, said: 'We are delighted to have been able to award the contract for TS Jack Petchey to a British shipyard as it contributes in a small way to ensuring those technical and boatbuilding skills for which Britain as a seafaring nation can be rightly proud are kept alive.'