In terms of physical capacity, Barrow shipyard offers one of the best equipped large warship building facilities in the UK. To focus use of the Barrow shipyard assets solely on submarine building would jeopardize the success of the British Government’s large warship building programme.

The 5,000 people who make up the Barrow workforce have been responsible for delivering the most sophisticated command and control capability in Europe to the Royal Navy in ships like HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. Future ships will need to operate alongside these vessels. It therefore makes sound economic sense to sustain and use the resources at Barrow to design and build the future fleet, taking advantage of the experience gained. To find out more about the Barrow Shipyard Click here 

The workforce has, in effect, re-established the UK's nuclear submarine building capability, after a 10 year gap in building between the Vanguard and the Astute classes of submarine.