 RFA Argus: Saw action in Gulf war |
A Cornwall dock company has won a multi-million pound contract to refit the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus. The deal, believed to be worth between �5m and �10m, will take three months, keeping about 350 men in work.
Engines will be overhauled and the ship will also receive new lifts and be re-painted.
RFA Argus' primary role is as a helicopter training ship.
Workers' welcome
But she is also equipped with a state-of-the-art hospital unit which was used when the vessel was a casualty receiving ship during the conflict in Iraq.
Falmouth has already undertaken a number of similar projects on Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.
The news has been warmly welcomed at the yard.
One of the workers, Rodney Churcher, said: "It means a lot to us.
"The casual employees will get employment for a long period of time, which is a great bonus to them.
"Looking ahead, everything should go well."
Falmouth Docks has bounced back from a fire in January, which for a time cast doubts over the future of the yard.
A spokesman for the government's Warship Support Agency said it was pleased to offer the yard the opportunity to continue to demonstrate its ability to carry out such specialist work.
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