An appeals film produced by Northern Newsreel and Trade Films for the Sunderland Shipyards Campaign in support of North East Shipbuilders Ltd (NESL) Pallion yard based on the River Wear. The film speaks with many involved in the campaign about the readiness of the yard both with regards equipment and workforce for future shipping order, but also the need for government support with regards subsidies to complete with international markets. On the 2nd November, 1986 the crane ship ITM...

An appeals film produced by Northern Newsreel and Trade Films for the Sunderland Shipyards Campaign in support of North East Shipbuilders Ltd (NESL) Pallion yard based on the River Wear. The film speaks with many involved in the campaign about the readiness of the yard both with regards equipment and workforce for future shipping order, but also the need for government support with regards subsidies to complete with international markets. On the 2nd November, 1986 the crane ship ITM Challenger is launched into the River Wear from the North Sands yards of North East Shipbuilders. As the massive vessel slips down into the water tugboats bob about on the Wear and a crowd watches the spectacle from the far bank. Over the opening credit the River Wear and the shipyards of North East Shipbuilders Ltd with several vessels under construction moored along the banks. Title: N.E.S.L. The Yard for the 90s From a boat travelling along the Wear the skyline dominated by large cranes. Sitting in an armchair at his home Tynemouth Conservative MP Neville Trotter states that the shipbuilding yards in Sunderland are full of modern equipment with a skilled and competent workforce. Bob Clay Labour MP for Sunderland North comments that he has spoken with brokers and businesspeople who acknowledge that the Sunderland shipbuilding yards are some of the finest in the world. As he talks about the productivity of the yard being comparable with Japan, an engineer in a fabrication workshop using a laser cutting machine to cut a piece of metal submerged in a cooling solution. As Bob Clay continues to talk about computer aided design (CAD) systems, a naval architect using said system to create and print a technical drawing. Around him other men working on computers in an open plan office. Inside a factory unit a man checks over a piece of machinery changes to another worker at the yard, Brian Tate standing beside his son Paul talking about the change he has seen taking place at the yard in the 30-years he has worked there. From a crane gantry inside an undercover factory unit at the Pallion yard two different vessels under construction below. From a boat on the Wear the diving support ship Stena Seawell, an example of a specialist ship now being built by North East Shipbuilders Pallion yard. Joyce Quin Labour MEP for Tyne and Wear talks about how these modern highly technical ships are allowing North East Shipbuilders to compete on the international market. Over a montage of men at work in the yard Neville Trotter speaks about the company’s workforce while Chris Storey, Chair of Wearside Chamber of Commerce talks about flexible working, the loss of restrictive practices and a realistic and common-sense trade union relationship. Retuning to Joyce Quin she speaks about how the shipbuilding skills of the area are respected throughout the world, as she talks about the costs of building a ship the launch of the general cargo ship Johanna Oldendoff from the Southwick yards on the 3rd November 1986. Inside another undercover factory unit only one ship under construction with the narrator stating that due to a depression in the world demand for ships many countries such as Japan and South Korea have been subsiding their shipping industry to win orders. Another montage of men at work inside an undercover factory unit and Joyce Quin explaining that at present the European Economic Community (EEC) currently allows for subsidies to the tune of 28% of the cost of a vessel, she explains why she would have liked to see a higher figure to compete with the markets in the Far East. Chris Storey comments that while the current Conservative government is prepared to give subsidies, they aren’t prepared to subsidise British Shipbuilders. Alan Beith Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed states that he would like to see the long-term shipbuilding around the world on a proper economic basis. As he speaks about how at present no one is building large ships without subsidies and Britain shouldn’t be at a disadvantage a large vessel under construction on a slipway. Men stand on the deck of the Johanna Oldendoff as it is slowly moved along the Wear by tugboats passing under the Queen Alexandra Bridge. Another vessel sits on a slipway nearing completion. Councillor Charles Slater, Leader of Sunderland Council believes that within the next two years there will be an upturn in the demand for ships. Chris Storey believes if North East Shipbuilders can get through the next two years the yard will have a bright future. Bob Clay believes it’s good news that the Japanese are looking at a 30% increase in the prices as the industry in moving back towards realistic prices. Paul Tate believes North East Shipbuilders in the 1990s could provide some of the best jobs in the country. Alan Beith states that now the industry has modernised, what has been retained is able to take advantage of the market opportunities that are available to it. Back in the undercover factory unit men using arc welders on various sections of metal changes to an overhead view of the River Wear and a large ship moored along a shipyard quayside. Neville Trotter explains that two-thirds of jobs in shipbuilding are not in the shipyard but in factories across the countries producing the parts for ships. Alan Beith giving an example of a business in his own Alnwick constituency which produce parts for ships on Wearside. He goes onto explain that companies such as these across the region wouldn’t survive if the yards were closed. From a boat on the Wear the bow of the massive vessel on its slipway seen previous changes to a clip from the documentary ‘We Make Ships’ in which Sir Edward du Cann, Former Chairman of the 1922 Committee talks about the need for workmen to keep working in order to prevent them from losing their skills. Councillor Charles Slater states that the social cost of closing the yards would be over two-thousand million pounds while Neville Trotter believes there is a case for retaining some shipbuilding capacity in Britain. As Neville Trotter talks about the hope that Sunderland could be part of this national shipbuilding future a large billboard reading ‘Save Sunderland’s Shipyards…’ with people signing petitions nearby. Councillor Ron Smith, Leader of the Conservative Group, Sunderland Council talks about the support of the people of Sunderland in the Save the Shipyards campaign with Chris Storey also praising cross-party and support from local businesses. Final comments from Neville Trotter who doesn’t believe Britain as an island nation should be without a shipbuilding industry while Joyce Quin believes it would be a tragedy that the shipbuilding industry in Sunderland be allowed to disappear. Brian Tate states that he is committed to the industry as it is his livelihood. Overhead views of the Johanna Oldendoff being launched with the voice of Sir Edward du Cann in the background being critical about the end of shipbuilding. Over the closing credits tugboats on the Wear and some of the rivers large cranes silhouetted against an evening skyline. Credit: Narrated by Eric Robson Music Ed Martin Title: Produced on a voluntary basis for the Sunderland Shipyards Campaign by Northern Newsreel, A19 Film and Video, Siren Film and Video, Swingbridge Video, North East Media Training Centre We would like to thank Siren Film and Video for permission to use extracts from ‘We Make Ships’. Broadcast Facilities North, Mike Burns, Peter Callaghan, G.M.B., Brian Hails, Infinite Images, Gerry McCullough, Wendy McEvoy, Alan Milburn, Newcastle Polytechnic Media Productions Dept, Newlands Electronics Ltd, Stuart Sargent Sunderland Shipyards Campaign, Town Centre House, Crowtree Road, Sunderland, SR1 3EB. Tel: 091 510348 End title: © June 1988