Britisch boat yard sinks 550 jobs

ALL 550 staff at Britain’s oldest commercial shipbuilders were made redundant yesterday. Receivers go into 148-year-old Appledore Shipbuilders, north Devon, today to wind it up. Local union convener Roy Harkness said last night: “The yard’s closed. “No prospective buyer’s going to take on a company so heavily in debt. “We sent letters to every man and woman working at the yard, telling them they’ve been made redundant from this afternoon. “But we’re hoping that from the ashes should be resurrected a good, profitable business.”

Bron: The Sun, 02-10-2003;