Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd
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Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd (VSEL) is based at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Now BAE Systems Marine (VSEL), the company builds large naval vessels, nuclear submarines and armaments.
History
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The Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 saw Vickers Shipbuilding nationalized and incorporated into British Shipbuilders. Vickers was the first shipyard of this group to return to the private sector. This occurred in 1986, after it acquired Cammell Laird. Cammel-Laird was later closed in 1993.
In 1994 VSEL was subject to two takeover proposals, one from GEC and another from British Aerospace (BAe). VSEL was willing to participate in a merger with a larger company to reduce its exposure to cycles in warship production, particularly following the "Options for Change" defence review following the end of the Cold War.
Both bids were referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) which issued its conclusions and advice to government in May 1995. BAe's bid was approved, while the MMC concluded (with 2 of 22 members dissenting) that GEC's bid was likely to "operate against the public interest". However it was GEC's bid that was approved and accepted by VSEL. In many ways it was British Aerospace who was the most likely partner, with extensive capabilites in naval systems (see BAeSEMA), but no shipbuilding capabilties of its own. GEC already owned Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd (YSL) as well the naval systems businesses of Plessey and Ferranti.
Following GEC's purchase VSEL became Marconi Marine (VSEL), part of the company's GEC-Marconi division. With the merger of British Aerospace and GEC's defence business, Marconi Electronic Systems, VSEL passed to the resulting company, BAE Systems.
Modern Warships built by VSEL
 | Missing image Trafalgar_class_submarine.JPG Trafalgar class of seven nuclear attack submarines | |
Missing image Hmsinvincible.750pix.jpg HMS Invincible, lead ship of the Invincible class light aircraft carriers. | Missing image Albionclass.jpg Albion class amphibious assault vessels (LPD) | Missing image HMS_Manchester_(D95)_Type_42_destroyer.jpg HMS Manchester, one of three Type 42 destroyers built by VSEL. |
- Surface Combatants
- HMS Invincible
- Albion Class LPDs
- 3 Type 42 class destroyers
- HMS Ocean - VSEL won contract but Ocean built at Kvaerner Govan. Fitted with military equipment at VSEL's Barrow yard.
Land warfare
- M777 lightweight howitzer