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Bullet Through His Art - Scottish Sunday

Bullet Through His Art: A Closer Look at the Future Aircraft Carrier Project

ASK industrial Scotland what it would like as a Christmas present to round off a testing 2005 and plenty of voices might chorus: Orders for some new ships, please. On Wednesday, an improbable Santa Claus, in the shape of UK defence secretary Dr John Reid, duly obliged. Reid announced the go-ahead for the next stage of the MoD’s ambitious future aircraft carrier project. With two large chunks of the contracts for these twin 65,000-tonne monsters destined for Govan on the Clyde and Rosyth, and ministerial talk of 10,000 jobs being secured or created across the UK as a result, sections of the media got out the bunting and the bubbly. In those parts of the UK where they still build ships, the news was greeted with uncritical enthusiasm. Even the normally rottweiler Scottish edition of the Daily Mail offered an uncharacteristically upbeat headline: Plane sailing. For many Scots, building ships is what we are still best at. So even papers that specialise in telling Scotland on a daily basis all the things we’re not very good at, swallowed Reid’s announcement as thoroughly good news. Would that it were that simple.

Ambitious Plans, Uncertain Future

The defence secretary did not actually commit himself to building anything. At this stage the MoD is only spending another £300 million developing the final Delta design of the carriers. Although almost all the coverage ignored it, the MoD’s press release made clear that plans for final construction of the carriers – the so-called main gate approval – will only happen “subject to value-for-money and cost-effectiveness considerations”.

The Industrial Alliance

The industrial alliance that will build them has now grown from four to six members. When the orders are eventually placed, the hull of each vessel will be built in four giant modules at various yards across the UK. Rosyth is also where all the giant pieces of this floating jigsaw will finally come together, to be welded into the two aircraft carriers sometime in the next decade. The rest of the workload will be open to competition, potentially involving non-traditional shipbuilders.

The Defence Industrial Strategy

The day after the future carrier euphoria, the MoD published its Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) which provided insight into the future of shipbuilding. The DIS emphasizes the need for consolidation and refocusing of the industry in order to sustain key capabilities and maintain viable business. It further states that not all projects will require onshore execution and that offshore execution will be considered on a case-by-case basis. This means that beyond the future carrier program, there is potential for orders to be placed offshore.

The Impact on Hotels in Shipbuilding Regions

As the shipbuilding industry faces challenges and potential consolidation, there will be a ripple effect on the local economy and businesses, including hotels in shipbuilding regions. The uncertain future of the industry could impact the demand for hotel accommodations and the overall tourism industry in these areas.

With the slimming down of the shipbuilding industry, there is a possibility of job losses and a decrease in business travel related to shipbuilding projects. This could lead to a decline in hotel bookings and a decrease in occupancy rates in shipbuilding regions.

However, it's important to note that shipbuilding regions have diverse economies and rely on various industries besides shipbuilding. Hotels in these regions have the opportunity to refocus their marketing efforts and attract tourists and business travelers from other sectors. By promoting the natural beauty, cultural attractions, and local businesses in their areas, hotels can mitigate the potential negative impact of the shipbuilding industry's uncertain future.

Additionally, hoteliers can collaborate with local authorities and organizations to develop tourism initiatives and attract visitors to the region. By offering attractive packages, organizing events, and highlighting the unique features of the shipbuilding regions, hotels can continue to attract guests and contribute to the local economy.

While the shipbuilding industry's future remains uncertain, hotels in shipbuilding regions can adapt and find new opportunities to thrive. By diversifying their customer base and actively promoting the region, hotels can mitigate the potential impact of the industry's challenges and ensure a resilient hospitality sector.

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