CAMMELL Laird has won a £200-million contract to build a state-of-the-art polar research ship that will maintain the country's position at the forefront of climate and ocean research.

It was chosen as preferred bidder for the work, following a 12-month competitive tender process that involved bids from companies in the UK, Europe and the Far East.

It means the future of more 400 jobs and apprenticeships at the Birkenhead site is secure.

The new polar research ship, which will operate in both Antarctica and the Arctic, will be able to endure up to 60 days in sea-ice to enable scientists to gather more observations and data.

Work is due to start next autumn 2016 and the vessel will be ready for operation by 2019.

Laird's chief executive John Syvret said: "The new contract, which will be finalised later this year, is expected to secure 400 jobs at Cammell Laird and a further 100 jobs within the local supply chain.

"Cammell Laird has a very successful apprenticeship scheme and would plan to recruit 60 apprentices throughout the term of the contract.

"Being selected as the preferred bidder in a global tender to undertake such an exciting and major infrastructure project is fantastic news for our workforce, the local region and the UK.

“We look forward to helping the UK explore the depths of the ocean and push the boundaries of UK science.”

The ship will be the first British-built polar research vessel with a heli-deck to open up new locations for science and will be one of the most sophisticated floating research laboratories operating in the Polar Regions.

Funding for the new polar research ship was announced in April last year, as part of the Government’s science capital programme.

Cammell Laird was selected by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) through a full competitive procurement process.

Wirral Council leader Cllr Phil Davies said: "This is fantastic news and testament to the reputation and professionalism of the Cammell Laird workforce.

"I understand this is the biggest contract Lairds have won for some time, and it will not only safeguard jobs, it will also create apprenticeships in trades that will transfer to the many other jobs coming to Wirral as we position our borough as a centre for excellence in the marine and maritime engineering industries.

"We will be working with Cammell Laird and local training providers to ensure that we as a council play a major part in ensuring that the infrastructure is here, and also that we have the workforce with the skills to take advantage of these new job and training opportunities."

Birkenhead Frank Field MP said news of the contract was: "A mega day for Laird’s and therefore for Merseyside."

He added: "It puts Laird’s back into the shipbuilding business and the development of a niche market.

"It secures hundreds of jobs, dozens of new apprenticeships and one hundred jobs in the supply chain.

"Huge congratulations to John Syvret and his team."