A&P FALMOUTH: Shore Power Project to Bolster UK Marine Decarbonisation

British history on the sea is unrivalled. The nation has long-established itself as a leader in everything ocean. Whether sailing and navigating the waves, or engineering solutions for the water, the island nation has ensured that its expertise continues to grow. Historically, as the need for more offshore activity has expanded – with security, energy, trade, tourism, and environmental safety all drivers – Britain’s sea experts are called on like never before to step up.

The country is home to many highly efficient and modern ports, and a skills base unmatched by any other. The result is billions contributed to GDP annually, and the ability to trade with and travel to all corners of the world.

Today, one of the industry’s leaders in ship repair, conversion and marine specialist services is A&P Group. A booming skillset is put to work across two large sites of infrastructural importance. A&P Falmouth and A&P Tyne sit at opposite ends of the country, but work closely together to achieve major success for clients in defence and international maritime sectors.

A&P Falmouth is the core site for the business and is a buoyant and bustling community of seafaring experts, engineering professionals, and business support specialists who develop and nurture an innovative and pioneering supply chain.

SHORE POWER

Working on marine assets is heavy industry. Welding, lifting, painting, repairing – the work requires space, time, skill, and energy. If the business is to continue attracting shipowners and fleet managers from around the world, it has to stay apace with change. A&P Falmouth has proven itself more than capable throughout its history of innovating and adapting to new environments. Recently, the company was celebrated for an exciting new shore power project which will see a reduction in emissions as part of a wider UK scheme. One of the world’s largest natural deep-water harbours, with large graving docks and extensive along-side deepwater berthing, this project is complex and comes in at more than £12 million.

When complete, A&P Falmouth will host the UK’s first multi-vessel flexible shore power connection as one of 10 flagship projects that will highlight the possibility of clean maritime solutions.

Upgrades to HV substations, replacement of ageing assets, relocation of current assets, HV cable overlay installation and, eventually, HV connection point installation across the facility makes for a busy work schedule. Thankfully, A&P Falmouth (part of the APCL Group) has strong partners in Innovate UK, Marine Zero, and Integrum all under the banner of the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition.

“Sustainable shore power plays a vital role in global and national efforts to reduce the impact of the maritime industry on the environment. Our strategy at A&P Falmouth is to achieve net zero across our operations by 2030, so this hugely exciting project will be a significant milestone on that journey,” said Mike Spicer, Managing Director of A&P Falmouth. “It is testament to the strength of our bid and our reputation in the industry that we were chosen by UK Government to be one of the recipients of this funding.”

As the largest ship repair complex in the UK, A&P Falmouth is the perfect choice for investment which will reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution.

Drystan Jones, Port Development Director at A&P Falmouth, said in April 2024 that the company was thrilled to be awarded the funding: “This is a key milestone in the Zevi project and an exciting step towards delivering the installation of the new shore power system in Falmouth.

“Sustainable shore power plays a vital role in global and national efforts to reduce the impact of the maritime industry on the environment. Our strategy at A&P Falmouth is to achieve net zero across our operations by 2030.

“It was fantastic to invite the project teams, contractors, installation and delivery teams together to celebrate the beginning of such an important project.”

Andy Hurley, Marine Zero director, said: “There is no doubt that shore power will play a critical role in reducing emissions for vessels at berth. We are delighted to be partnering with A&P Falmouth as they take this major step towards their net zero future.”

The UK Department of Transport allocated £206 million to the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) in March 2022 with the goal of decarbonising the maritime sector.

APCL Group CEO, David McGinley, was delighted when spades hit the ground in October 2024. “A&P Falmouth and the wider APCL Group sustains 100% of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and also provides vital ship repair services to the Royal Navy. This shore power project will further the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to reducing the impact of vessels on the environment and it is testament to the vital services we deliver and our reputation in the industry that we were chosen by UK Government to be one of the recipients of this funding.”

NEW PARTNERSHIPS

In November 2024, A&P Falmouth was bolstering its project portfolio as it entered into a fresh agreement with Red Funnel Ferries (RFF). RFF operates ferry services between Southampton and the Isle of Wight on the UK south coast and annual ship repair services will now take place at Falmouth with five vessels docking each year. RFF’s Raptor Class vehicle ferries, including Red Falcon, Red Eagle, Red Osprey and Red Kestrel, are well-known to A&P Falmouth and the APCL Group with APCL company Cammell Laird responsible for construction of the Red Kestrel which launched in 2019.

The framework agreements are designed for maximum efficiency and minimum downtime, and involve a lengthy assessment before a vessel arrives to dock.

“The ongoing success of our business is based on collaboration with all our customers and working in partnership with them,” said McGinley.

“APCL’s commercial framework agreements have a proven track record of completing projects on time and to budget and eliminating down time for our customers,” he added.

Spicer was also upbeat, saying: “Our commercial partnership agreement scheme is proving very successful and is now being rolled out across the wider APCL Group. These agreements enable APCL to plan ahead and ensure our customers are getting the best possible service as efficiently as possible.”

From the customer perspective, Fran Collins, Chief Executive Officer at RFF, agreed that the agreement was a major positive: “We are delighted to be extending our framework agreements with A&P Falmouth,” she said. “We have an excellent relationship with A&P Falmouth and indeed the wider APCL Group and they continue to provide us with an exceptional level of service for our four Raptor Class ferries – Red Falcon, Red Eagle, Red Osprey and Red Kestrel.

“As a long-standing ferry company, that runs 365 days a year, in all weather conditions, the maintenance carried out on our ferries are crucial to the operation of our business to ensure their longevity, reliability and safe service for our customers.”

In the same month, A&P Tyne completed the fabrication of four new Type 26 Royal Navy frigate units for HMS Belfast further proving the organisation’s excellence and adaptability in tough economic conditions.

“Our skilled workforce, along with our valued apprentices, have been working with their customary professionalism and dedication to ensure this work has been completed to the very highest standards,” said McGinley.

With these new initiatives paving the way for a bright and sustainable future, A&P Group continues to prove that navigating energy transition and economic challenges is achievable, with the correct planning and leadership, and that British innovation on the water will continue to shape the marine sector globally long into the future.