AROUND 200 jobs are at risk at Birkenhead ship yard Cammell Laird.

The company - which works primarily as a  marine and engineering contracting service provider - currently employs 823 people, with another 500 indirectly employed in the supply chain.

Bosses say that as a result of their work, there are "peaks in demand for skilled and semi-skilled labour" and due to the completion of "substantial contracts" and uncertainty on the award of others, it needs to "address our cost base".

The redundancy threat comes as the shipyard is close to completing a major contract to build the flight deck of the Royal Navy’s second new aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.

A Cammell Laird spokesman said: "At present our workforce stands at 823 with another 500 indirectly employed in the supply chain.

"This is effectively more than double the workforce of 320  in 2008. 

"The company has experienced significant growth and has an ambitious growth strategy targeting the emerging markets of renewable energy and civil nuclear. 

"However, due to varying circumstances these opportunities have suffered due to pressure on the global finance markets and the general speed of the UK’s economic recovery.

"As a contracting business we have to respond to the market and order book and be aware of costs to ensure that the company is in a stable financial position to win future contracts.

"This is the nature of the business. The company manages peaks in demand in an open, professional manner working in partnership with the trade unions, and employment legislation, and remains committed to the workforce and local communities. 

"As a result of finishing substantial contracts and without certainty in the award of future contracts, we need to address our cost base.  As a consequence around 200 jobs are at risk.

"The company is continuing to bid for significant opportunities and remains optimistic of winning orders and achieving long term objectives.”