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 | | Wednesday, 13 March, 2002, 14:20 GMT Tyneside hopes boats come in  Swan Hunter refurbishes as well as builds ships Shipyard owners and union leaders are attempting to secure more than 3,000 jobs on Tyneside by winning a contract to build two aircraft carriers. A delegation from the Swan Hunter yard and the GMB union is visiting the House of Commons on Wednesday to rally North East MPs. The yard - which has already brought shipbuilding back to the Tyne - is on the trail of a �2.7bn government contract for two new aircraft carriers. Swan Hunter's chairman Jaap Kroese says work on either ship would secure thousands of jobs in an area hit hard by manufacturing closures. 'Tyne future' The firm, which was visited by Prime Minister Tony Blair in February, employs more than 700 people and is looking to increase its order book. Mr Kroese said: "The new deal would represent about 3,000 jobs by the time it is in full operation by 2008, which would be a tremendous guarantee for the future of the Tyne." Kevin Rowan, regional organiser for the GMB, said the delegation would try to convince MPs that the work should come to the Wallsend yard.
He said: "It would be a huge investment in the people and skills of the region. "We will be telling them about the massive skills bank we have in the region. "In the North East we are world leaders in ship building, and are constantly updating and replenishing those skills." Swan Hunter is working on the �130m defence order to build two Alternative Landing Ship Logistic (ALSL) troop carrying vessels, creating four years' work. The work, which got underway in October 2001, is the first shipbuilding contract on the River Tyne in eight years. When the contract is completed, it is hoped the aircraft carrier work, due to start in 2005, will come on stream and guarantee Tyneside shipbuilding jobs. The company also refurbishes offshore platforms and vessels. | |   See also: Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top England stories now:  Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||
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