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{{EngvarB|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox Defunct Company
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
⚫
| company_name = Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Limited (VSEL)
{{Infobox company
| company_logo = [[image:VSEL.png|200px|]]
⚫
| name = Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Limited (VSEL)
⚫
| company_type = [[Limited company]]
| logo = VSEL.png
| logo_size = 200px
⚫
| type = [[Limited company]]
| fate=Acquired
| fate=Acquired
| successor= [[BAE Systems Submarine Solutions]] <br> [[BAE Systems Land and Armaments]]
| successor= [[BAE Systems Submarine Solutions]]<br />[[BAE Systems Land & Armaments]]
| genre =
| genre =
| foundation = 1871
| foundation = 1871
| founder =
| founder =
| defunct = 2007
| location_city = Barrow-in-Furness
| location_city = Barrow-in-Furness
| location_country = England
| location_country = England
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| key_people =
| key_people =
| area_served =
| area_served =
| industry = Shipbuilding<br> Marine Engineering
| industry = Shipbuilding<br />Marine Engineering
| products =
| products =
| services =
| services =
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| divisions =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| subsid =
| owner = British&nbsp;Shipbuilders&nbsp;(1977-1986)<br>GEC (1995-1999)<br> BAE Systems (1999-present)
| owner = British Shipbuilders (1977–1986)<br />GEC (1995–1999)<br />BAE Systems (1999–present)
| company_slogan =
| company_slogan =
| homepage =
| homepage =
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}

'''Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, Ltd''' (VSEL) was a [[shipbuilding|shipbuilding company]] based at [[Barrow-in-Furness]], [[Cumbria]] in northwest [[England]] that built warships, civilian ships, submarines and armaments. The company was historically the Naval Construction Works of [[Vickers Armstrongs]] and has a heritage of building large naval warships and armaments. Through a complicated history the company's shipbuilding division is now [[BAE Systems Submarine Solutions]] and the armaments division is now part of [[BAE Systems Land and Armaments]].
'''Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, Ltd''' ('''VSEL''') was a [[shipbuilding|shipbuilding company]] based at [[Barrow-in-Furness]], Cumbria in northwest England that built warships, civilian ships, submarines and armaments. The company was historically the Naval Construction Works of [[Vickers Armstrongs]] and has a heritage of building large naval warships and armaments. Through a complicated history the company's shipbuilding division is now [[BAE Systems Submarine Solutions]] and the armaments division is now part of [[BAE Systems Land & Armaments]].


==History==
==History==
[[Image:Vickers Advertisement Janes 1914.jpg|thumb|A Vickers Ltd advert from 1914]]
[[File:Vickers Advertisement Janes 1914.jpg|thumb|A Vickers Ltd advert from 1914]]
⚫
The company was founded in 1871 by [[Sir James Ramsden|James Ramsden]] as the '''Iron Shipbuilding Company''', but its name was soon changed to '''Barrow Shipbuilding Company'''.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nationonfilm/topics/ship-building/background.shtml|title=The history of Shipbuilding in the North East|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>


⚫
In 1897, Vickers & Sons bought the Barrow Shipbuilding Company and its subsidiary the [[Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company]], becoming Vickers, Sons and Maxim, Limited.<ref>[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?target=SeeMedium&ObjectID=%7B27BF2E66-AA38-5C8C-49C5-002D9D635D27%7D&source=Search&viewby=images 'Armour Plate Planing Shop', 1902] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213194251/http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?target=SeeMedium&ObjectID=%7B27BF2E66-AA38-5C8C-49C5-002D9D635D27%7D&source=Search&viewby=images |date=13 February 2012 }} Ingenious</ref> The shipyard at Barrow became the Naval Construction & Armaments Company. In 1911 the company was renamed Vickers Ltd, and in 1927 became [[Vickers-Armstrongs|Vickers Armstrongs Ltd]] after a merger with [[Armstrong Whitworth]], whose shipyard at [[Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne|High Walker]] on the [[River Tyne]] became the "Naval Yard".
⚫
The Company was founded in 1871 by [[Sir James Ramsden|James Ramsden]] as the '''Iron Shipbuilding Company''', but its name was soon changed to '''Barrow Shipbuilding Company'''.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nationonfilm/topics/ship-building/background.shtml|title=The history of Shipbuilding in the North East|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=2013-05-04}}</ref>


⚫
In 1955 the name of the shipbuilding division changed to Vickers Armstrongs Shipbuilders, Ltd and changed again in 1968 to Vickers Limited Shipbuilding Group.<ref name=history>[http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM37FC_Vickers_BAE_Sytems_Barrow_in_Furness_Cumbria_UK Waymarks: BAe Systems Barrow]</ref>
⚫
In 1897, ''Vickers & Sons'' bought the ''Barrow Shipbuilding Company'' and its subsidiary the ''[[Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company]]'', becoming ''Vickers, Sons and Maxim, Limited''.<ref>[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?target=SeeMedium&ObjectID=%7B27BF2E66-AA38-5C8C-49C5-002D9D635D27%7D&source=Search&viewby=images 'Armour Plate Planing Shop', 1902] Ingenious</ref> The shipyard at Barrow became the Naval Construction Yard. In 1911 the company was renamed ''Vickers Ltd'', and in 1927 became ''[[Vickers-Armstrongs|Vickers Armstrongs Ltd]]'' after a merger with [[Armstrong Whitworth]], whose shipyard at [[Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne|High Walker]] on the [[River Tyne]] became the "Naval Yard".


⚫
The shipbuilding group was [[nationalised]] under the [[Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977|Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act]] in 1977 and subsumed into [[British Shipbuilders]].<ref name=history/>
⚫
In 1955 the name of the shipbuilding division changed to ''Vickers Armstrongs Shipbuilders, Ltd'' and changed again in 1968 to ''Vickers Limited Shipbuilding Group''.<ref name=history>[http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM37FC_Vickers_BAE_Sytems_Barrow_in_Furness_Cumbria_UK Waymarks: BAe Systems Barrow]</ref>


⚫
The ex-Vickers yard at Barrow was the first shipyard of the British Shipbuilders group to return to the private sector. It was sold in March 1986 to an employee-led company, VSEL Consortium, which also included its [[Birkenhead]]-based subsidiary, [[Cammell Laird]]. The company was floated on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in December 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ftse.com/Research_and_Publications/Archive/FTSE_UK_Index_Series_1986.pdf |title=Actuaries Index 1987 |access-date=3 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211143844/http://ftse.com/Research_and_Publications/Archive/FTSE_UK_Index_Series_1986.pdf |archive-date=11 February 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
⚫
The shipbuilding group was [[nationalised]] under the [[Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act]] in 1977 and subsumed into [[British Shipbuilders]].<ref name=history/>

⚫
The ex-Vickers yard at Barrow was the first shipyard of the British Shipbuilders group to return to the private sector. It was sold in March 1986 to an employee-led company, VSEL Consortium, which also included its [[Birkenhead]]-based subsidiary, [[Cammell Laird]]. The company was floated on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in December 1986.<ref>[http://www.ftse.com/Research_and_Publications/Archive/FTSE_UK_Index_Series_1986.pdf Actuaries Index 1987]</ref>
{{Location map|Cumbria
{{Location map|Cumbria
|label =
|label =
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}}
}}


In 1988, a mistake by senior management and changing shipbuilding methods meant that the Vickers shipyard in [[Barrow-in-Furness]] accidentally welded part of {{HMS|Triumph|S93|6}} (a [[nuclear submarine]]) in an upside-down position.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=West |agency=Associated Press |date=8 April 1988 |title=Upside-down submarine section embarrassing |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529135644/https://apnews.com/article/2695d37f681032d5e3bc388493b0c9f0 |access-date=29 May 2023}}</ref>
⚫
In 1994 VSEL was subject to two takeover proposals, one from [[General Electric Company plc|GEC]]<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/gec-makes-rival-bid-for-vsel-1445530.html GEC makes rival bid for VSEL] The Independent, 29 October 1994</ref> and another from [[British Aerospace]] (BAe).<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/cashin-ahead-at-vsel-cambridge-don-stands-to-gain-nearly-pounds-1m-from-bid-for-shipyard-1440469.html Cash-in ahead at VSEL: Cambridge don stands to gain nearly £1m from bid for shipyard] The Independent, 2 October 1994</ref> 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 after 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.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/bae-fuels-vsel-hopes-in-cash-call-for-vsel-hopes-deckys-1613599.html BAe fuels VSEL hopes in cash call for VSEL] The Independent, 31 March 1995</ref> BAe's bid was approved, while the MMC concluded (with two of 6 members dissenting) that GEC's bid was likely to "operate against the public interest".<ref>[http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1995/may/23/vsel Parliamentary debates] Hansard, 23 May 1995</ref> However it was GEC's bid that was approved and accepted by VSEL.<ref>[http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Navy-International-95/GEC-S-KNOCKOUT-BID-WINS-FIGHT-FOR-VSEL.html GEC's knockout bid wins fight for VSEL] Jane's, 1995</ref>


⚫
In 1994 VSEL was subject to two takeover proposals, one from [[General Electric Company plc|GEC]]<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/gec-makes-rival-bid-for-vsel-1445530.html GEC makes rival bid for VSEL] The Independent, 29 October 1994</ref> and another from [[British Aerospace]] (BAe).<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/cashin-ahead-at-vsel-cambridge-don-stands-to-gain-nearly-pounds-1m-from-bid-for-shipyard-1440469.html Cash-in ahead at VSEL: Cambridge don stands to gain nearly £1m from bid for shipyard] The Independent, 2 October 1994</ref> 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 after 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.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/bae-fuels-vsel-hopes-in-cash-call-for-vsel-hopes-deckys-1613599.html BAe fuels VSEL hopes in cash call for VSEL] The Independent, 31 March 1995</ref> BAe's bid was approved, while the MMC concluded (with two of 6 members dissenting) that GEC's bid was likely to "operate against the public interest".<ref>[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1995/may/23/vsel Parliamentary debates] Hansard, 23 May 1995</ref> However it was GEC's bid that was approved and accepted by VSEL, since Secretary of State [[Michael Heseltine]] did not accept the MMC's recommendation and allowed the bid to proceed.<ref>[http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Navy-International-95/GEC-S-KNOCKOUT-BID-WINS-FIGHT-FOR-VSEL.html GEC's knockout bid wins fight for VSEL] Jane's, 1995</ref>
⚫
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 as part of [[BAE Systems Marine]]. In 2003 it became an independent division known as [[BAE Systems Submarines]] after BAE systems split its ship and submarine building operations. This was renamed BAE Systems Submarine Solutions in January 2007.<ref>[http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/SubmarineSolutions/index.htm BAe Systems Submarine Solutions]</ref>

⚫
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 as part of [[BAE Systems Marine]]. In 2003 it became an independent division known as [[BAE Systems Submarines]] after BAE systems split its ship and submarine building operations. This was renamed BAE Systems Submarine Solutions in January 2007.<ref>[http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/SubmarineSolutions/index.htm BAe Systems Submarine Solutions]</ref>


==Ships built by VSEL==
==Ships built by VSEL==
{{main|List of ships and submarines built in Barrow-in-Furness}}
{{Main|List of ships and submarines built in Barrow-in-Furness}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Port of Barrow]]
*[[Port of Barrow]]
*[[Vickerstown]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{British shipbuilders evolution}}
{{British shipbuilders evolution}}
{{Barrow-in-Furness}}
{{Barrow-in-Furness}}
{{General Electric Company plc}}
{{General Electric Company plc}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Barrow-in-Furness port shipyard| ]]

[[Category:Vickers| ]]
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[[Category:Barrow-in-Furness port and shipyard| ]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1871]]
[[Category:Defence companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defence companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct shipbuilding companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct shipbuilding companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Vickers| ]]
[[Category:General Electric Company]]
[[Category:History of Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:History of Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1871]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Cumbria]]
[[Category:British Shipbuilders]]

Revision as of 20:18, 18 December 2023

Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Limited (VSEL)
Company typeLimited company
IndustryShipbuilding
Marine Engineering
Founded1871
Defunct2007
FateAcquired
SuccessorBAE Systems Submarine Solutions
BAE Systems Land & Armaments
Headquarters
Barrow-in-Furness
,
England
OwnerBritish Shipbuilders (1977–1986)
GEC (1995–1999)
BAE Systems (1999–present)

Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, Ltd (VSEL) was a shipbuilding company based at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in northwest England that built warships, civilian ships, submarines and armaments. The company was historically the Naval Construction Works of Vickers Armstrongs and has a heritage of building large naval warships and armaments. Through a complicated history the company's shipbuilding division is now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions and the armaments division is now part of BAE Systems Land & Armaments.

History

A Vickers Ltd advert from 1914

The company was founded in 1871 by James Ramsden as the Iron Shipbuilding Company, but its name was soon changed to Barrow Shipbuilding Company.[1]

In 1897, Vickers & Sons bought the Barrow Shipbuilding Company and its subsidiary the Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company, becoming Vickers, Sons and Maxim, Limited.[2] The shipyard at Barrow became the Naval Construction & Armaments Company. In 1911 the company was renamed Vickers Ltd, and in 1927 became Vickers Armstrongs Ltd after a merger with Armstrong Whitworth, whose shipyard at High Walker on the River Tyne became the "Naval Yard".

In 1955 the name of the shipbuilding division changed to Vickers Armstrongs Shipbuilders, Ltd and changed again in 1968 to Vickers Limited Shipbuilding Group.[3]

The shipbuilding group was nationalised under the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act in 1977 and subsumed into British Shipbuilders.[3]

The ex-Vickers yard at Barrow was the first shipyard of the British Shipbuilders group to return to the private sector. It was sold in March 1986 to an employee-led company, VSEL Consortium, which also included its Birkenhead-based subsidiary, Cammell Laird. The company was floated on the London Stock Exchange in December 1986.[4]

Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering is located in Cumbria
Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering
class=notpageimage|
Map showing the location of VSEL within Cumbria.

In 1988, a mistake by senior management and changing shipbuilding methods meant that the Vickers shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness accidentally welded part of HMS Triumph (a nuclear submarine) in an upside-down position.[5]

In 1994 VSEL was subject to two takeover proposals, one from GEC[6] and another from British Aerospace (BAe).[7] 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 after 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.[8] BAe's bid was approved, while the MMC concluded (with two of 6 members dissenting) that GEC's bid was likely to "operate against the public interest".[9] However it was GEC's bid that was approved and accepted by VSEL, since Secretary of State Michael Heseltine did not accept the MMC's recommendation and allowed the bid to proceed.[10]

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 as part of BAE Systems Marine. In 2003 it became an independent division known as BAE Systems Submarines after BAE systems split its ship and submarine building operations. This was renamed BAE Systems Submarine Solutions in January 2007.[11]

Ships built by VSEL

Main article: List of ships and submarines built in Barrow-in-Furness

See also

References

  1. ^ "The history of Shipbuilding in the North East". BBC. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  2. ^ 'Armour Plate Planing Shop', 1902 Archived 13 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Ingenious
  3. ^ a b Waymarks: BAe Systems Barrow
  4. ^ "Actuaries Index 1987" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  5. ^ West, Michael (8 April 1988). "Upside-down submarine section embarrassing". Associated Press. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  6. ^ GEC makes rival bid for VSEL The Independent, 29 October 1994
  7. ^ Cash-in ahead at VSEL: Cambridge don stands to gain nearly £1m from bid for shipyard The Independent, 2 October 1994
  8. ^ BAe fuels VSEL hopes in cash call for VSEL The Independent, 31 March 1995
  9. ^ Parliamentary debates Hansard, 23 May 1995
  10. ^ GEC's knockout bid wins fight for VSEL Jane's, 1995
  11. ^ BAe Systems Submarine Solutions
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