A SIGNIFICANT milestone has been reached at the Port of Milford Haven today with the keel laying ceremony for its new state-of-the-art 22-metre pilot transfer vessel. The vessel, currently under construction by Next Generation Shipyards, is the first step in a multi-million-pound investment programme aimed at enhancing the Port’s pilotage services.

The keel laying ceremony, traditionally marking the official start of a ship’s construction, highlights the Port’s continued commitment to improving safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. This new vessel will play a vital role in maintaining the high standards of pilotage at the UK’s leading energy port.

Harbourmaster at the Port of Milford Haven, Mike Ryan, spoke of the significance of the event: “Today’s keel laying ceremony is a momentous occasion for everyone involved in the project. This new vessel represents our commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence. As the UK’s leading energy port, we understand the importance of having world-class infrastructure to support our customers and maintain our competitive advantage.”

Wayne Busby, Watch Manager at the Port, expressed his anticipation for the vessel’s arrival next year, noting: “The Marine team is eagerly awaiting the delivery of our Next Generation pilot transfer vessel. We face some of the most challenging weather conditions in the world, and this substantial investment will ensure we can continue providing excellent service long into the future.”

Next Generation Shipyards, known for its innovative designs and craftsmanship, is building the 22-metre vessel to meet the unique demands of pilot transfer operations. With advanced safety features, improved sea-keeping abilities, and cutting-edge technology, the vessel is designed to optimise performance in harsh conditions.

Technical Director at Next Generation Shipyards, Dirk Keizer, commented: “With this keel laying, the construction has begun for an extraordinary vessel. The technical and comfort capabilities combined with self-righting technology make this vessel stand out. We are pleased to contribute to the Port’s future and are involved in maintenance and training programmes to ensure smooth operations.”

Steven Lee, Chief Naval Architect at BMT, added: “This milestone reflects the dedicated efforts of the project team over the past ten months. This new pilot boat will meet regulatory and operational standards, setting a new benchmark for heavy weather operations. We look forward to supporting the vessel through its construction and trials.”

Ed Soothill, Technical Director at Camarc Design, also highlighted the significance of the project: “We have worked closely with the Port of Milford Haven and NG Shipyards to develop a pilot boat that can handle very demanding operational conditions. We are delighted to see the project reach this stage and look forward to its completion in 2025.”

The new pilot transfer vessel is expected to enter service in 2025, reinforcing the Port of Milford Haven’s commitment to providing safe and efficient marine services. This vessel will be a cornerstone of the Port’s long-term investment strategy, ensuring its continued ability to serve a wide range of vessels.

THE Secretary for Energy invited to visit industry-leading Carmarthenshire firm.

Local politician Jane Dodds MS has invited the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans MS to visit a local Carmarthen underground cabling firm.

ATP Cable Ploughing, a firm based in Pencader, operates a specialist machine called a “spiderplow” which allows cables to be installed underground with minimal impact.

The Carmarthenshire firm is already laying over a kilometre of high voltage cable a day in sensitive areas across the UK.

Underground cabling has been hailed as an alternative from building overhead Pylons across the countryside, with underground cables being less vulnerable to damages caused by the weather.

Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds has now called on the Welsh Government to make underground cabling the default option in Wales instead of building more overhead Pylons.

Speaking to the Siambr on Tuesday, Jane Dodds MS invited the Cabinet Secretary for Energy Rebecca Evans MS to a cross-party site visit to ATP Cable Plough, so that she could see “their cutting-edge technology firsthand to demonstrate how undergrounding can secure our energy future while also protecting our beautiful landscapes.

Undergrounding our power infrastructure isn’t just about appearance, it’s about resilience. And with more extreme weather events becoming the norm, having a more weather-proof grid is becoming increasingly more important.

The Welsh Government’s commitment to building a green economy is welcomed but we must go further, particularly when it comes to alternative approaches like underground cabling, in order to give ourselves a chance at futureproofing our energy grid.”

CARDIFF AIRPORT’S bid for a substantial £205 million government subsidy over the next decade has ignited a fierce debate in the UK aviation sector. This funding, announced by Ken Skates, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, aims to safeguard and potentially expand the 5,000 jobs supported by the airport, which the Welsh Government acquired for £52 million in 2013. The proposed investment would be targeted at attracting new airlines and routes, aiming to elevate passenger numbers to over two million annually and diversify the airport’s revenue streams in areas such as aviation training, sustainable aviation fuel, cargo, and maintenance.

However, Bristol Airport has voiced significant concerns, suggesting that such substantial state aid to Cardiff could create commercial imbalances. Bristol Airport, having handled a record 9.8 million passengers in 2023 compared to Cardiff’s 841,000, fears the subsidy could skew competitive dynamics. The airport argues that the investment might disadvantage it by altering the competitive landscape, potentially impacting its passenger numbers and revenue.

The dispute highlights the growing disparity in performance and strategy between the two airports. Cardiff Airport aims to reach its pre-pandemic annual passenger number of 1.6 million by 2026, focusing on a smaller number of routes, including long-haul flights to major economic centres. In contrast, Bristol Airport has thrived by targeting high-volume tourist traffic and low-cost carriers.

The Welsh Government has submitted its investment plans for Cardiff Airport to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), seeking to ensure compliance with the UK’s new public sector subsidy rules. The CMA’s Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has issued a non-binding evaluation report that calls for a more detailed assessment of potential competitive impacts. The report suggests that the Welsh Government’s analysis could better address the implications for Bristol Airport and other regional airports, which could also compete for similar activities in the future.

Several other UK airports, including Birmingham and Regional and City Airports, have echoed Bristol’s concerns about potential distortions to competition and investment. However, Gloucestershire Airport has reported no anticipated negative impacts on its operations.

The situation is further complicated by Bristol Airport’s expressed willingness to collaborate with Cardiff Airport in non-competitive areas to cut costs and lessen taxpayer expenses, though it seeks greater transparency in how Cardiff’s proposed subsidy will be allocated.

Responding to the news that Bristol Airport said it is “deeply concerned” over plans by the Welsh Government to provide over £200m in subsidy, Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, said: “Investment in airports – as with any large-scale transport infrastructure – is crucial in order to ensure they are able to grow and thrive. This of course, includes large scale subsidies such as the £206 million proposed support package for Cardiff Airport.

“Whilst I do not dispute this positive injection of investment for Cardiff Airport, I do dispute where it is coming from. It remains my belief that the private sector is the right environment for this vital Welsh transport link to thrive, and that we would see much greater investment, growth and passenger take-up if the competitive free market was utilised.

“We all know that government funding is stretched. A move to the private sector would not only encourage efficiency, competition and attract greater investment and growth for Cardiff Airport, but it would free-up more taxpayer cash to spend in other areas of the budget that so desperately need help under current circumstances.”

In response to the CMA’s findings, Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Rebecca Evans, has stated that the Welsh Government will take the necessary time to consider the CMA’s feedback before refining its proposed investment program. She promised to update the Senedd once a decision has been reached on how to proceed.

This ongoing saga underscores the challenges facing regional airports in balancing growth ambitions with fair competition, especially in a post-Brexit regulatory environment.

As Cardiff Airport strives to expand its capabilities and service offerings, the outcome of this dispute will have significant implications for regional economic development and the broader UK aviation industry.