The Unite union has described the re-opening of the Appledore shipyard as being in touching distance,
Appledore Shipyard, in Bideford, Devon, closed on March 15 2019 despite a union-led protest march, a 9,500-strong petition and the efforts of local MPs.
And ever since its closure, Unite, along with the local community, has been campaigning for it to re-open.
Once the yard is re-opened it will provide employment for between 100-200 skilled workers.
Unite regional officer Heathcliffe Pettifer, who previously worked at the yard said: “We are on the verge of securing the re-opening of the Appledore shipyard the only thing delaying the process appears to be a lack of political will.
"The government needs to demonstrate joined up thinking and provide the minimal assurances the consortium needs in order to get the yard re-opened.
“Any further delay or lack of support would be a gross dereliction of the government’s duty to support the 海角视频’s shipbuilding industry.”
Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “Since the closure of Appledore our local union members and the wider community have never given up campaigning to get the yard re-opened.
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“It is now imperative that the government signs the necessary paperwork to make the re-opening of Appledore a reality.
“The return of shipbuilding to North Devon will demonstrate that the government is serious about supporting the manufacturing sector and providing high quality skilled jobs in the 海角视频’s regions.”
The history of Appledore Shipyard
Appledore Shipyard is the last survivor of a centuries-old tradition of shipbuilding on the north Devon estuary where the Rivers Taw and Torridge meet the Bristol Channel.
Sailors from the village are said to have been among those who fought the Spanish Armada in 1588.
The yard dates back to 1855, remaining in family ownership for many years, specialising in tug-boats and fishing trawlers, and making a significant contribution to Britain's war effort from 1939 to 1945.
The yard was bought in 1964 by shipping and charter holiday airline company Court Line and was later taken into public ownership by the Labour government to form part of British Shipbuilders.
It was bought in 1989 by Langham Industries.
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Appledore flourished during the 1990s and earned a reputation for building specialist survey vessels, such as HMS Scott, used by the Royal Navy to produce maps of the world's oceans.
Vessels it has also built include dredgers and passenger ferries. However, orders dried up and the yard went into administration in 2003, with the entire 550-strong workforce made redundant.
In 2004 it was bought out of administration by DML, operator of Plymouth-based Devonport Royal Dockyard, which was itself bought by Babcock in 2007.