CAMMELL Laird is one of two shipbuilding and ship repair businesses brought together under the umbrella of a single company.

APCL Group LTD has been established to operate as an umbrella organisation for the Birkenhead-based shipyard and A&P Group, which has shipyards in Hebburn (Newcastle) Middlesbrough (Teesside) and Falmouth in Cornwall.

Ship repair and project management specialist A&P Australia and Birkenhead-based Neway Industrial Services will also be brought under the APCL banner.

Each company will retain their own unique identities, but by bringing the four businesses together under one banner, APCL will stand before the market as a much larger company.

The move will enable APCL Group to develop an ‘all of one’ company approach to certain major contracts and will further the Group’s ambition of becoming a Tier One businesses.

With locations in the North East, Falmouth, North West and Australia, it will become a "true global entity and reinforce its standing on the international stage", according to bosses. 

Ownership of each company has not changed, and the shareholders will remain the same.

David McGinley, chief executive of APCL Group LTD, said: "Each individual company will retain its proud heritage, identity and history, but being part of APCL Group will enable them all to work more closely together and develop synergies for the benefit of both the company and the customer.

"In today's global marketplace, being able to speak with one voice, across a number of markets, collaborate and share knowledge and expertise across our global operations means we can better serve our valued customers and stakeholders."