Merseyside's historic Cammell Laird shipyard has been officially renamed Balaena Birkenhead following its acquisition by Balaena Group in a £150 million deal. The takeover, completed last week, marks a new chapter for the iconic yard on the River Mersey.
Rebranding and Strategy
Simon Gillett, CEO of Balaena Group, confirmed the immediate rebranding during an interview with the Liverpool Echo. He explained that the decision was not taken lightly but was necessary to unify the group's five shipyards under a single identity. "We have five shipyards now, and when you consider the storied history of each—Gibraltar is 100 years older than here—we wanted a bold, fresh approach to signal that something different is happening across all our yards," Gillett said.
The group, which also operates facilities in Gibraltar and Padstow, acquired APCL Group, the parent company of Cammell Laird. The newly formed entity aims to bolster UK defence interests while establishing one of Britain's most comprehensive commercial ship repair and refit networks. This network will serve operators in offshore energy, cargo, cruise, and ferry sectors.
Investment and Modernisation
Balaena plans to invest in modernising APCL's facilities, expanding capacity for ship repair, offshore fabrication, and low-emission propulsion systems. A new national skills and apprenticeship programme will be launched in partnership with local colleges and maritime training bodies to develop the next generation of maritime professionals.
Addressing the government's defence spending review, Gillett welcomed the discussions on future investment. He emphasised the importance of the Royal Navy relationship, noting his family's naval background. "I joined the Royal Navy as an apprentice engineer, as did my father and mother. We're a Royal Navy family," he said. "Working with the Royal Navy is key, but we must balance that with commercial work. Grey ships and the Royal Navy are absolutely core to our success."
Employee and Union Support
Regarding job security, Gillett assured employees that it would be "business as usual" initially, with investment aligned with the outcomes of the defence review and customer needs. "Growth is what we're going for—long-term growth and security for the employees here," he added.
The acquisition has received backing from the GMB union. Matt Roberts, GMB national officer and president of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, said: "This deal gives certainty after months of speculation and allows our members at Cammell Laird, A&P Falmouth, and A&P Tyne to move forward together. We look forward to working with the new owners to grow UK sovereign capability and increase local jobs and apprenticeships."
The expanded group aims to deliver improved drydocking, hull fabrication, and life-extension capabilities, reducing vessel downtime and enhancing Britain's competitiveness in global ship repair.
