Shipyard in UK Gets Big Rudder Orders

Shipyard A&P Falmouth wins multi-million pound contract to supply container ship rudders

The major new contract with Italian shipowner Grimaldi was won against stiff competition from several shipyards throughout Europe and cements A&P’s reputation for excellence and efficiency.

It also marks a milestone in A&P’s 10-year partnership with Grimaldi, taking the total number of Grimaldi ships repaired by the A&P Group to 50, the majority of which have been in Falmouth.

It will see A&P Falmouth constructing four huge rudders – weighing 42 tonnes each – for Grimaldi’s multipurpose container ships Grande San Paolo, Grande Buenos Aires, Grande Francia and Grande Nigeria. The state-of-the-art multipurpose container/ roll on roll off vessels carry cars, trucks, other vehicles and container cargo around the world.

Manufacture of the rudders has begun and the first of the four vessels will arrive in Falmouth in late April for full survey and maintenance work, and to have her new rudder installed. The three other vessels will follow over the summer period, and A&P expects up to 150 staff to work on the ships while they are in dry dock.

David Daniel, Commercial Director at A&P Falmouth, said: “This is a significant new contract for us and we are delighted to be working with Grimaldi once again. The work has resulted from the partnership we have built with Grimaldi over the last decade and Grimaldi’s confidence in the people at A&P Falmouth to carry out the work on time and to a high standard.

The last Grimaldi vessel to undergo repairs at A&P Falmouth was the Grande Africa in August 2011.