Vickers Shipbuilding and Nautical Engineering Plc
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| Established | 1892 |
| Headquartered | Devonport, Oceania, United Kingdom |
| Assets | |
| Executive Director | Geoffrey Covington |
Vickers Shipbuilding and Nautical Engineering plc, alternately VSNE plc, is a major shipbuilder headquartered in Devonport, UK although its corporate offices are located in Philadelphia to the north and west. VSNE is one of the three remaining major shipbuilders in the United Kingdom along with Breningrad Shipyards and Carson and Wolff. By the early 21st century, VSNE had come to be the major builder of small to medium tonnage vessels for both the civilian market and the Royal Navy. Recently, with relaxation of stringent guidelines on the export of military hardware, the company has seen some growth in the export of combat vessels to foreign nations, most notably the Commonwealth of Northford.
Contents
History
Beginnings
Founded in 1892 along the banks of the New Thames River in Georgetown, then Vickers Shipwrights constructed sailing vessels for inter-island trade. The quick, shallow-draft vessels found immediate appeal in evading the pirates and warships of the different nations that patrolled the Azazian Sea and the Pacific coasts. Throughout the remainder of the 19th century and up until the creation of the Commonwealth in the early 20th, Vickers Shipwrights expanded its operations, opening yards in nearby Devonport, Philadelphia, Portsmouth and Thamesport. Of note, the city of St. Brendans was omitted owing to the enormous growth of Breningrad Shipyards
The World Wars
Although remaining neutral during World War I, the Commonwealth of Azazia instituted a massive naval construction programme to fend off the potential threat of German armoured cruisers, a threat to a, while still neutral, decidedly pro-British government. Vickers Shipwrights provided the new Commonwealth with its own armoured cruisers and destroyers and a few torpedo boats while leaving the heavier capital ships to its competitors.
By World War II, with a stable market for warship construction, Vickers Shipwrights continued to produce a mixture of civilian and military vessels – although increasingly found its ability to produce quality cruisers and destroyers eroding with the slack taken up by Carson and Wolff. Consequently, throughout World War II, Vickers manufactured frigates and commercial vessels with most of its profit being secured in the latter.
Cold War to the Modern Day
The rise of the Cold War saw increased need for coastal patrol ships and the booming economy saw increased need for inter-island commercial freighters. Vickers capitalized on those two markets from its prior expertise and in 1956, with the acquisition of Kingston Nautical Engineering, a leading civilian maritime vessel manufacturer, became the Vickers Shipbuilding and Nautical Engineering it is today.
At the end of the 20th century, VSNE remained strong, but relegated to the third position in terms of shipbuilders in the United Kingdom. It, along with Carson and Wolff, facing stiff competition from the increasingly dominant Breningrad Shipyards, forced Parliament to ease export constrictions so that by the 21st century, VSNE had begun to market some of its smaller designs to international markets. In 2006, the efforts of the directors paid off when VSNE and WorldTech Industries, a shareholder, announced a limited strategic partnership that would provide better access to each company’s respective home country markets.
Expansion
On 11 October 2006, Geoffrey Covington announced at a shareholder meeting the acquisition of Kvassen Corporation, one of the United Kingdom's leading manufacturers of vehicles, including military hardware such as tanks and armoured fighting vehicles that have seen extensive use in the country's efforts to combat domestic insurrection in New London. One of the company's first ground vehicle products to be designed and released will be the Cougar main battle tank, being designed by a consortium including VSNE, the Royal Ordnance Company, and WorldTech Industries.
Products
While Vickers provides numerous vessels and services for UK domestic markets, in particular the Royal Navy, very few of its products are available to foreign governments and organisations.
Corporate Information
Board of Directors
- Executive Director: Geoffrey Covington
- VSNE: 56%
- Carson and Wolff: 9%
- Breningrad Shipyards: 5%
- WTI: 3%
- Tenatura Corp.: 3%
