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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=4 May 2013}}</ref>
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=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] 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
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 & 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".

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 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
|label =
|lat = 54.11
|long = -3.23
|caption = <small>Map showing the location of VSEL within Cumbria.</small>
|float = right
|background = white
|width = 200
}}

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>[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, 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>


==Ships built by VSEL==
==Ships built by VSEL==

Revision as of 06:42, 22 September 2017

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 1994 VSEL was subject to two takeover proposals, one from GEC[5] and another from British Aerospace (BAe).[6] 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.[7] 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".[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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 Ingenious
  3. ^ a b Waymarks: BAe Systems Barrow
  4. ^ Actuaries Index 1987
  5. ^ GEC makes rival bid for VSEL The Independent, 29 October 1994
  6. ^ Cash-in ahead at VSEL: Cambridge don stands to gain nearly £1m from bid for shipyard The Independent, 2 October 1994
  7. ^ BAe fuels VSEL hopes in cash call for VSEL The Independent, 31 March 1995
  8. ^ Parliamentary debates Hansard, 23 May 1995
  9. ^ GEC's knockout bid wins fight for VSEL Jane's, 1995
  10. ^ BAe Systems Submarine Solutions
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