From RRS Sir David Attenborough, to block build of the latest Type 26 Frigates, we know what it takes to deliver vessels of vital national importance.
APCL’s Group of companies have played a strategic role in UK shipbuilding for the past 200 years including block build for the Aircraft Carrier Alliance and Type 26 on behalf of BAE. Our facilities also deliver ferries which transport people and goods to remote locations across the UK.
Our experienced and highly knowledgeable technical team of naval architects, marine engineers, electrical engineers and marine design draftsmen provide the expertise to deliver the most complex of shipbuilding projects from concept design to completion.
Fabrication
APCL A&P and APCL Cammell Laird have long-standing and well-earned reputations for delivering highly complex steel fabrication projects across the UK and beyond.
APCL A&P Tyne’s facility in the North East and APCL Cammell Laird's fabrication facility in the North West, have completed some of the most ambitious shipbuilding and block build projects in modern times, from the block build of the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers to the recent construction of the RRS Sir David Attenborough. APCL A&P and APCL Cammell Laird have also delivered units for Type 26 Frigates, the latest class of advanced anti-submarine warfare vessels.
APCL A&P Group and APCL Cammell Laird are well-equipped to support a variety of sectors including renewables, marine, oil and gas, nuclear and defence, we fabricate large scale and complex defence, energy and marine structures.
Ship Repair & Conversion
APCL A&P Tyne, APCL A&P Falmouth and APCL Cammell Laird operate 24 hour, seven days a week, 365 days a year ship repair facilities across the UK.
Our combination of facilities, capabilities, project managers and engineers mean we are available to complete repairs to the full range of vessels - including ferries, tankers, offshore support vessels, dredgers, cargo vessels, jack ups and cruise ships.
Whether the works are scheduled repairs or emergency repairs, APCL has the capability to deliver all projects ranging from steel work and piping to the most complex electrical and mechanical systems.
Global In Service Support
APCL A&P and APCL Cammell Laird underpin the availability of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
APCL A&P and APCL Cammell Laird’s dedicated Cluster Support Teams and Fleet Time Support Teams based in their facilities in Birkenhead and Falmouth, support the RFA whilst they are in operational theatre across the Globe.
APCL’s collaborative relationship with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, delivers significant value for money for the Ministry of Defence.
Our extensive knowledge of the vessels through repeat refits means we are able to deliver better quality, better value and better understanding for the Royal Navy and RFA – increasing efficiency in fleet time and non-maintenance fleet time.
Today APCL Group is proud to support 100 per cent of the RFA Fleet.
Port Operations
APCL Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company (FDEC) is part of the APCL Group and is the statutory harbour authority, responsible for area of water immediately surrounding Falmouth Docks.
APCL A&P Falmouth offers a broad scope of facilities and equipment, including Falmouth International Cruise Terminal, an extensive cargo handling facility, an enterprise zone and dock estate. As Cornwall’s only deep-water port with alongside facilities, APCL A&P Falmouth is an important gateway to the South West of England and the Atlantic.
Cruise Ship Facilities
A&P Falmouth is home to Falmouth International Cruise Terminal – which is the gateway to the Duchy of Cornwall.
Falmouth is strategically placed for a wide variety of cruises, including Round Britain, Trans-Atlantic and European positioning as well as 3/4 day cruises from Southampton or Dover.
The Port can accommodate ships alongside, or they can anchor in the sheltered waters of the Bay. A dedicated passenger landing facility is available.
Ships berth only a 10 minute walk away from the town or passengers can opt to take a complimentary transfer coach.
A&P provides a 24-hour towage service at Falmouth for all moves around the dock, the harbour, river or wider bay area.
Currently the fleet consists of two matched twin Voith tractor tugs, each with a bollard pull of 20 tonnes, and one Voith tractor tug with a bollard pull of 43 tonnes. A fourth Voith tractor tug with a bollard pull of 23 tonnes is available on request.
In addition, there are two workboats, one of which can operate throughout the estuary ferrying men to work afloat or taking stores and equipment to ships in the river or bay.
A&P’s cargo handling facility is capable of handling all types of general cargo – from glass, stone and animal feed. The port’s strategic role in receiving casualties means that restowing and recovery of damaged cargo is also carried out by A&P on a regular basis.
The cargo business has bulk cargo bays which are serviced by a LHM150 mobile F harbour crane and offers 4,500m2 of undercover storage.
Dock Estate
The Dock estate extends over 30 hectares with major operations of ship repair and port services, plus a full range of marine services from over 17 tenants. These include;
Falmouth Oil Services: providing bunkering and inland distribution services.
Pendennis Shipyard: prestigious yacht building and restoration projects with a global reputation.
Various smaller companies providing ship repair services and supporting local marine business activities.
Enterprise Zone.
Set up in 2018 as a commitment to the local economy, Falmouth Docks and Enterprise Zone is intended to help bring greater opportunity, growth and development to the region, with particular focus on how the port’s facilities and infrastructure can be developed for strategic and economic advantage.
Since the Zone was set up, FDEC has undertaken a complex feasibility study to look at the port’s potential and how it could be improved, particularly in relation to serving the offshore renewables market and regional connectivity.
Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW)
A&P’s vision is simple – to help make Falmouth a prime hub for the floating offshore wind sector – offering fabrication, construction, maintenance, port and marine services to developers and service companies.
Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF)
Falmouth Docks & Engineering Company, operated by A&P Group, secured an award of £973,292 from the Shared Prosperity Fund to undertake an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to inform potential redevelopment to support the production of cleaner, affordable and secure energy from floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The EIA will inform how potential modernisation of the dock infrastructure at the historic Cornish port could enable Cornwall to be at the forefront of the growth of this emerging high value, clean growth sector. It will also explore options for the managed expansion of Cornwall's year-round cruise tourism offer.
This is part of a £1m project to create quayside laydown facilities for the Floating Offshore Wind sector. It will create approximately 30,000m2 of laydown space at Falmouth Docks between the County and Duchy Wharfs for the growing FLOW market.
The project aims to ensure Falmouth Docks can meet the timeline for the first developer (Twin Hub) to be on site in the Celtic Sea and generating renewable energy by 2027.
