Ramona Adams
The U.K. government has published an independent report by businessman and Anglo American Chair John Parker that provides recommendations to boost the country’s naval shipbuilding industry.
Parker’s report includes a reappraisal of the U.K.’s shipbuilding efforts and will inform the country’s National Shipbuilding Strategy that will be released in 2017, the U.K. defense ministry said Tuesday.
The report identified modern digital engineering, industrial innovation, competitiveness, exports as well as apprenticeships and jobs as key areas where the U.K. and industry partners should invest to drive the growth of the local shipbuilding industry.
Parker said the country can achieve savings, modernize the British navy’s fleet, open export opportunities and create highly skilled jobs if the government, industry and trade unions meet challenges highlighted in the report.
MoD added the U.K. currently develops two new aircraft carriers, Type 26 global combat ships, offshore patrol vessels, a new general-purpose frigate and Dreadnought– and Astute-class submarines as part of efforts to grow the navy’s fleet by the 2030s.
