CAMMELL Laird has won 10-year contracts to maintain nine ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The Future In Service Support (FISS) deal, awarded by the Ministry of Defence, is worth more £619m.

It will sustain more than 300 jobs at the company and in the supply chain and create more than 100 apprenticeships.

Laird previously held a RFA cluster contract placed in 2008, subject to five year reviews.

As part of its new deal, the firm will continue to support the ships in 'lot one', including RFA Fort Victoria, RFA Fort Austin, RFA Fort Rosalie, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler, at an estimated value of £357 million.

In addition, it has won 'lot three' covering the four new Tide Class tankers, Tidespring, Tiderace, Tidesurge and Tideforce at an estimated value of £262million.

The contract forms part of a wider £1bn deal that will secure hundreds of jobs at shipyards across the country. The deal covers 17 ships and will improve how spares, repairs and maintenance work are carried out.

Laird's chief executive, John Syvret CBE said: "Winning this new deal will give us the ability to continue our vital apprentice training programme recruiting talented young people from the area at the same drum beat of around 20 new apprentices a year.

“I am very proud to say we have recruited more than 200 apprentices since 2008 investing more than £12million in staff training.

“The benefits the RFA contract brings to our region cannot be overstated and we will maintain our commitment to ensure this money is invested responsibly in our workforce and infrastructure to support the future requirements of the MoD and growth of the UK’s maritime sector.”

John Kennedy, Laird's MoD programme director said: "This is tremendous news for everyone involved in Cammell Laird and all the organisations and people who support our vision to bring a renaissance of ship repair and ship building to Merseyside and the UK.

"The effort that has gone into the RFA cluster contract since 2008 has been immense and I pay tribute to all involved including the RFA, the MoD, our workforce and our supply chain who have made this approach to clustering such a success"

Defence minister Stuart Andrew said: "This £1bn deal secures work for some of our world-leading shipyards into the next decade, supporting over 700 jobs for workers to ensure our ships remain at sea to defend the nation.

"This vital work is not only great news for our Navy, but also underlines the importance of defence to our national skills and prosperity."

Linton Roberts, Laird's managing director, said the cluster contract win further strengthens the yard's pedigree to undertake more work for the UK MoD, with the company presently bidding to build five Type 31e warships for the Royal Navy.

He continued: "Cammell Laird has a formidable background with the UK MoD having built more than 300 naval ships.

"Working so closely with the RFA positions us well for more UK MoD work, as through the RFA we are very familiar with the stringent project requirements demanded by the MoD.

"Moreover, in recent years we have helped build over 12,500 tonnes of the two new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales and we have been building modules for the Astute Class submarines.

"We are also massively looking forward to welcoming six Type 45 Destroyers over the next five years for major conversion projects.

"It is this experience and expertise which will underpin our forthcoming Type 31e bid."

Birkenhead MP Frank Field said: "For 40 years as the town's MP, one of my great privileges has always been to stand shoulder to shoulder with Cammell Laird in good times and bad.

"Today is one of those great times.

"Well done to everyone in the yard who has delivered this success.

"It's a proud day for Birkenhead and I share that pride."