Prime Minister Andy Burnham Joins Balaena Aboard Royal Daffodil at Birkenhead

Royal Daffodil Showcases the Strength of British Shipbuilding at Balaena Birkenhead

Balaena CEO Simon Gillett joined Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the Rt Hon John Healey and Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, aboard the new Royal Daffodil Mersey Ferry for a journey along the Mersey, including a sail past Balaena’s Birkenhead shipyard.

During the visit, Simon and Balaena Chief Technology Officer Linton Roberts outlined the vessel’s construction, propulsion system and the engineering decisions taken to future-proof Royal Daffodil for decades of service.

Around 85% of the vessel was delivered through the Liverpool City Region supply chain, demonstrating the depth of capability that exists within British industry and the economic value created when major shipbuilding programmes are delivered in the UK.

The delegation was also joined by six Balaena apprentices, alongside Liz Walker, Training and Apprentice Lead. The apprentices spoke about the areas of the vessel they had helped to build, their training and the experience of seeing a ship they had worked on now operating on the Mersey.

With Royal Daffodil positioned off Balaena’s Birkenhead site, discussion turned to the future of the yard, including the RFA and commercial vessels currently undergoing work, the company’s investment plans and the potential for future UK shipbuilding programmes to create significantly more skilled jobs and apprenticeship opportunities.

Royal Daffodil is a strong example of what can be achieved when British shipbuilding, regional supply chains and long-term investment in skills come together.

Balaena has the skills, capability and industrial strength to help rebuild British industry and drive the next generation of UK shipbuilding.