French beat Vosper to pounds 300m Kuwait order
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.VOSPER Thornycroft, the South Coast shipbuilder, has failed to win a key order from Kuwait worth up to pounds 300m, writes Russell Hotten.
Sources in the Middle East said the contract for up to eight patrol craft had gone to one of Vosper's main competitors in France.
Kuwait has signed the deal with the French government, which is expected to subcontract the work to Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie, the Cherbourg-based company bidding to buy the Swan Hunter shipyard on Tyneside. CMN is also believed to have won a pounds 33m contract to build a 57-metre missile attack craft for Kuwait.
The contract for the 42-metre patrol boats is part of Kuwait's plan to rebuild its navy following the Gulf war. The UK Ministry of Defence helped Vosper lobby for the business. German shipyards also bid for the work, though the French tender is said to have been the cheapest.
An announcement from the French government was said to be imminent. The loss of the business is not a serious blow for Vosper because it has a solid order book of more than pounds 500m to build 14 ships.
Even so, Vosper's yards on the Solent are not operating to capacity and management will be disappointed to have lost such a big order after months of lobbying.
Last month Vosper won an order from the MoD for seven Sandown class minehunters. The pounds 250m order will secure about 450 jobs for four years.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments