Can the United Kingdom's shipbuilding industry compete more broadly in commercial or foreign military markets. In this report, RAND researchers look at the current and past trends of shipbuilding worldwide and the primary differences between 'military' and 'commercial' shipbuilding. They find that any transition for UK shipbuilders outside current domestic production would not come easily. The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD) needs a robust and healthy shipbuilding industrial base if it is to be provided naval ships that are technically advanced and affordable. The MOD is thus interested in whether the United Kingdom's shipbuilding industry might become more competitive in commercial and foreign military marketplaces. It is the aim of this report to shed light on the prospects for the United Kingdom's re-entering the commercial market or increasing its share of the military export market. The authors base their analysis on three types of information sources. First, they reviewed the literature for pertinent documents. Of particular interest and value were Lloyd's Register of Ships, a database of existing ships and current commercial ship orders, and Warships Forecast, a 10-year projection of military ship production. Second, they surveyed 15 major shipyards (7 in the United Kingdom, 2 in the United States, and 6 in the European Union) and a consulting U.S. ship designer for their views on the feasibility and practicality of producing a mix of commercial and military vessels at a single yard. Third, they conducted interviews with personnel at shipyards responding to the survey to ensure that they understood the survey responses and to allow them to elaborate freely on the questions asked. The challenges are formidable, and their conclusions are not very encouraging, but the authors do provide some steps that the MOD and the shipbuilding industry could consider as means to improve the industry's position.
Differences between Military and Commercial Shipbuilding: Implications for the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence
2005
136 pages
Report
No indication
English
Marine Engineering , Logistics Military Facilities & Supplies , Management Practice , Industrial production , Military procurement , Naval vessels(Combatant) , Shipbuilding , United kingdom , United states , Competition , Exports , Government(Foreign) , Surveys , Quality control , Naval architecture , Foreign military sales , Shipyards , Economic forecasting , European union , Commercial shipbuilding , Military shipbuilding , Interviews , Royal navy
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