Last updated 12:59, Thursday, 13 November 2008

BAE is bringing in American submarine building experts to help plug some of the skill shortages hitting the yard’s Astute-class vessels.

MURRAY EASTON

The new US influx includes designers of future subs, as well as skilled shopfloor managers and team leaders from the Electric Boat nuclear submarine building company of Rhode Island, USA.

But the influx is small compared to the last one in 2003 when around 70 Americans arrived to brush up on the designs for the Astute-class nuclear power submarines, although most left after three to six months to work on designs back home.

They were brought in by the then new yard boss Murray Easton to help unblock serious delays on Astute.

This time 18 Americans are arriving in Barrow to help BAE.

They include six designers who have already arrived, and who will work with BAE, Thales, Rolls Royce and Ministry of Defence staff on designs for future subs including planned, giant Son of Trident vessels.

Twelve engineers from Electric Boat, set to arrive in January, will work on the Astute-class boats Ambush and Artful, now in build.

In a statement BAE said: “BAE Systems and Electric Boat regularly exchange experts in submarine design and construction under agreements between the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and the United States Navy.

“Electric Boat has provided six engineers to consult with BAE on submarine design, and will provide about a dozen craftsmen and supervisors to supplement the workforce constructing the Astute-class submarines at BAE Systems.”

For the Astute programme, Matt Anderson, head of manufacturing engineering at the yard, said: “Six (American) engineers and one supervisor will be based in Barrow for up to six months from January, working primarily on Ambush, to strengthen the Astute programme test and commissioning team.

“A further four Electric Boat personnel will arrive at the same time to work within Operations on Artful (Astute-class Boat 3) for up to 12 months. The three Integrated Work Team managers and one pipe installation team leader from Electric Boat will work alongside Astute programme IWT managers, sharing with us their experience and knowledge of the build processes used in America.

“On the flip side, they will also learn about the innovations introduced on the Astute build programme by BAE Systems here in Barrow.”

BAE is in the process of recruiting hundreds of workers over a period of time, but is finding some production skills, including project managers, hard to find in the UK.

On the design side, BAE has to work with the USA on any future Trident missile sub because the top secret missiles and missile compartments are American technology and are designed and made by US firms.