Editing Swan Hunter (section)

==History==
Swan & Hunter was founded by [[George Burton Hunter]], who formed a partnership with the widow of [[Charles Sheridan Swan]] (the owner of a [[Wallsend]] Shipbuilding business established in 1852 by [[Charles Mitchell (shipbuilder)|Charles Mitchell]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swanhunter.com/history.html|title=History|access-date=21 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190617/http://www.swanhunter.com/history.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> under the name in 1880.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swanhunter.com/history_p2.html|title=History|access-date=21 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223251/http://www.swanhunter.com/history_p2.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 1903, C.S. Swan & Hunter merged with [[Wigham Richardson]] (founded by [[John Wigham Richardson]] as Neptune Works in 1860), specifically to bid for the important contract to build {{ship|RMS|Mauretania|1906|6}} on behalf of [[Cunard Line|Cunard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/SwanHunter/index.htm|title=History of the Atlantic Cable & Submarine Telegraphy - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Ltd.|access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref> Their bid was successful, and the new company, Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd, went on to build what was to become, in its day, the most famous oceangoing liner in the world. Also in 1903, the Company took a controlling interest in the [[Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company]], which was an early licensed manufacturer of [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] steam turbine engines, which enabled ''Mauretania'' to achieve her great speed.<ref name=page4>{{cite web|url=http://www.swanhunter.com/history_p4.html|title=History|access-date=21 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727050921/http://www.swanhunter.com/history_p4.html|archive-date=27 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''Mauretania'' was launched from [[Wallsend]] on 20 September 1906 by the [[Anne Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe|Duchess of Roxburghe]].<ref>Maxtone-Graham, John (1972), Page 25, The Only Way to Cross. New York: Collier Books, {{ISBN|978-0-7607-0637-4}}</ref> The firm expanded rapidly in the early part of the twentieth century, acquiring the Glasgow-based [[Barclay Curle]] in 1912.<ref name=page4/>

In 1966, Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson merged with [[Smiths Dock Company]] to form ''Associated Shipbuilders'', which later became ''Swan Hunter Group''.<ref name=dates>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/jul/15/4 Fears for Tyneside tradition as Swan Hunter ship is towed to Govan for completion] Guardian, 15 July 2006</ref> Following the publication of the ''Geddes Report'' recommending rationalisation in [[United Kingdom|British]] shipbuilding, the Company went on to acquire [[Clelands Shipbuilding Company]]<ref name=arc>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/pdf/arkrep.pdf |title=Tyne & Wear Archives |access-date=4 April 2009 |archive-date=3 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103215409/http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/pdf/arkrep.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[John Readhead & Sons]] in 1967.<ref name=page5>{{cite web|url=http://www.swanhunter.com/history_p5.html|title=History|access-date=21 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190645/http://www.swanhunter.com/history_p5.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Meanwhile, Swan Hunter inherited both the Naval Yard at [[High Walker]] on the [[River Tyne]] of [[Vickers-Armstrongs]]<ref name=arc/> and the [[Hebburn]] Yard of [[Hawthorn Leslie and Company|Hawthorn Leslie]] in 1968.<ref name=page5/> In 1973 further expansion came with the purchase of [[Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company|Palmers]] Dock at [[Hebburn]] from [[Vickers-Armstrongs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swanhunter.com/history_p6.html|title=History|access-date=21 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222140142/http://www.swanhunter.com/history_p6.html|archive-date=22 February 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Then in 1977, Swan Hunter Group was [[Nationalization|nationalised]] as part of [[British Shipbuilders]].<ref name=dates/> The former flagship of the [[Royal Navy]], {{HMS|Ark Royal|R07|6}} was built at Swan Hunter during this period, entering service in 1985.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2008/01/29/swan_hunter_website_feature.shtml| title=Remembering Swan Hunter| publisher=[[BBC]]| date=30 January 2008| access-date=16 January 2011}}</ref>

The Company was [[Privatization|privatised]] again in 1987 but decided to close its Neptune Yard in 1988.<ref>[http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/08/30/royal-navy-ship-may-bring-work-for-100s-72703-21638250/ Royal Navy Ship may bring work for 100's] Evening Chronicle, 30 August 2008</ref> It was then forced to call in the receivers when the UK government awarded the contract for {{HMS|Ocean|L12|6}} to [[Kvaerner Govan]] in 1993.<ref>Duce, Richard (1993-05-12). "Barrow ship order dismays Tyneside". The Times (Times Newspapers).</ref> The receiver took steps to break up the business.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/receiver-breaks-up-swan-hunter-1442894.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/receiver-breaks-up-swan-hunter-1442894.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| title=Receiver breaks up Swan Hunter| author=Russell Hotten| work=[[The Independent]]| date=14 October 1994| access-date=16 January 2011}}</ref> However, the main shipyard in [[Wallsend]] was bought out from receivership by Jaap Kroese, a Dutch [[millionaire]].<ref name=dates/> The yard subsequently undertook several ad-hoc ship repair and conversion projects for private-sector customers.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/making-waves-again-1338245.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/making-waves-again-1338245.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| title=Making waves again| author=Peter Popham| work=[[The Independent]]| date=22 June 1996| access-date=16 January 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Swan hunter cranes 20070319 crop.jpg|right|thumb|500px|A view of the Wallsend shipyard shortly after its closure]]

In 2000, Swan Hunter was awarded the contract to design and build two (Auxiliary) Landing Ship Dock ships for the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] with two other ships being built by [[BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships|BAE Systems Naval Ships]]: the cost of the two Swan Hunter ships was to be £210 million including £62 million for lead yard services, with an inservice date of 2004.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ESogtFL5KRMC&dq=Swan+Hunter+wins+order+lyme+bay&pg=RA1-PA29 Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2004-05: Sixth Report of session 2005-06]. Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee. Page 29. 2006</ref> By July 2006, the costs had risen to £309 million and only one ship had been delivered. As a result of this, the second ship {{ship|RFA|Lyme Bay|L3007|6}} was transferred to [[BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions|BAE Systems Govan]] in Glasgow for completion.<ref>[http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/vessel-build-and-maintenance/vessel-repair-and-maintenance/lyme_bay_gets_going_at_govan Lyme Bay gets going at Govan] Maritime Journal, 1 April 2007</ref>

In 2001, Swan Hunter acquired [[Kværner]]'s [[Port Clarence]] offshore yard at [[Teesside]]<ref>[http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/shipbuilder-swans-sells-teesside-yard-4577095 Shipbuilder Swan's sells Teesside yard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401055435/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/shipbuilder-swans-sells-teesside-yard-4577095 |date=1 April 2017 }} The Journal, 13 April 2006</ref> but then in 2006 sold it to Wilton Engineering Group.<ref>[http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-news/archive/2008/05/27/ten-years-ago-port-clarence-was-an-empty-shell-now-it-s-a-hive-of-activity-51140-20975619/ Ten years ago Port Clarence was an empty shell - now it's a hive of activity] Evening Gazette, 27 May 2008</ref>

In November 2006, after the failure to complete ''Lyme Bay'' within budget and resulting exclusion from future Royal Navy shipbuilding projects, [[Jaap Kroese]] announced that the business was effectively finished and placed the Wallsend Yard's iconic cranes up for sale. He also said that he was actively looking for a buyer for the land.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2006/11/23/swan_hunter_23112006_feature.shtml| title=Demise of Swan Hunter?| publisher=[[BBC]]| date=18 January 2007| access-date=16 January 2011}}</ref> During this time, ''Lyme Bay''{{'}}s earlier sister ship, ''[[HMAS Choules (L100)|Largs Bay]]'', was noted as the last ship to be built and fully completed by Swan Hunter. In April 2007, Swan Hunter's cranes, along with its floating dock and other equipment, were sold to [[Bharati Defence And Infrastructure Limited|Bharati Shipyards]], [[India]]'s second-largest private-sector shipbuilder. The entire plant machinery and equipment from Swan Hunter was dismantled and transported to India over six months to be rebuilt at Bharati Shipyards.<ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=280577 Bharati buys out UK shipyard major Swan] Business Standard, 10 April 2007</ref>

Swan's performed the conceptual design of ''[[Pioneering Spirit]]'', provisionally named ''Pieter Schelte'', the world's largest platform installation/decommissioning and pipelay vessel. The basic design of the lifting systems was completed by the end of 2008, and detailed design of the hulls by May 2010.<ref name=development>{{cite web|title=Pioneering Spirit Heavy Lift Construction Vessel, Switzerland|url=http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/pioneering-spirit-heavy-lift-construction-vessel/|publisher=ship-technology.com|access-date=31 March 2017}}</ref>

In 2008, the company said it was concentrating on ship design with just under 200 people employed.<ref name=History/><ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/People+blame+the+MoD+for+Swan+Hunter's+decline,+not+me.+But+I+Know...-a0174752585 People blame the MoD for Swan Hunter's decline, not me] Evening Chronicle, 14 February 2008</ref>

In 2016, Jaap Kroese died but the company said it would continue with its business of ship design. At the time, the company had 40 employees and contractors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/swan-hunter-owner-jaap-kroese-10672562|title=Swan Hunter owner Jaap Kroese has died in his native Holland, aged 76|author=Barbara Hodgson|date=1 January 2016|work=nechronicle|access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref>

Also in 2016, Swan Hunter was relaunched into the subsea industry by Gerard Kroese, the eldest son of former owner Jaap Kroese. Swan Hunter started to offer specialist equipment, design, engineering & project management services to the offshore renewables and subsea oil & gas energy markets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/swan-hunter-return-tyneside-under-11916839|title=Swan Hunter to return to Tyneside under the son of former owner|last=McCusker|first=Peter|date=2016-09-21|work=nechronicle|access-date=2017-07-27}}</ref> On 12 October 2016, the company announced the issue of a letter of intent for the design and build of a basket carousel loading tower.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://swanhunter.com/swan-hunter-motive-offshore-group-basket-carousel-loading-tower/|title=Swan Hunter issue Letter of Intent to Motive Offshore Group for Basket Carousel Loading Tower|date=2016-10-12|work=Swan Hunter|access-date=2017-07-27|language=en-US}}</ref> The company announced further equipment pool growth through a 15Te tensioner and 450Te reel drive system.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://swanhunter.com/swan-hunter-grows-installation-equipment-pool-with-15te-tensioner-and-450te-reel-drive-system/|title=Swan Hunter Grows Installation Equipment Pool with 15Te Tensioner and 450Te Reel Drive System|date=2016-10-24|work=Swan Hunter|access-date=2017-07-27|language=en-US}}</ref> Swan Hunter announced loading tower readiness on 5 May 2017<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://swanhunter.com/swan-hunter-loading-tower-ready-for-operations/|title=Swan Hunter announce the completion of new 450Te Reel Drive System.|date=2017-05-05|work=Swan Hunter|access-date=2017-07-27|language=en-US}}</ref> with completion of mobilisation onto EMAS Chiyoda Subsea's multi-lay vessel 'Lewek Constellation' shortly thereafter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://swanhunter.com/swan-hunter-completes-mobilisation-of-flexlay-spread-onto-lewek-constellation/|title=Swan Hunter Mobilisation of Flexlay Spread onto Lewek Constellation|date=2017-05-30|work=Swan Hunter|access-date=2017-07-27|language=en-US}}</ref>