The growth & decline of British ship building In the late 19th century Britain was a leading world trading power. She was the first to introduce new technology in shipbuilding and the British Empire and other countries ordered ships. By the 1880s Central Scotland was the main world steel producer. Raw materials such as coal & iron could be found nearby. The Clydeside area of Scotland was ideal for building steamships; skilled craftsmen & engineers cheap labour from Ireland & Scotland deep sheltered rivers for launching new and better ships Clydebank was created when a shipyard moved from Govan further up the Clyde river. 1880s- 1950s Technological change steel ships replaced wooden ships steam engine perfected by 1914 electric furnaces, cranes etc meant larger ships were built which could travel further & faster. 1950s- welding replaced riveting & indoor sheds meant more work year round assembly line methods used by other countries- quicker & cheaper production 1880s- 1920 boom years 1920- 1939 depression in shipbuilding 1939- 1955 boom years 1955- 1990 decline of shipbuilding 1880s- 1920 BOOM Britain a world leader building 80% of world’s ships 20% of world’s ships built in Scotland. The Clyde area flourishing and a huge employer Pre WWI many orders from Royal Navy Warships and merchant ships built to replace those sunk by German U boats

Government policy towards shipbuilding 1920 -1939 DEPRESSION naval disarmament in peacetime Scottish fishing industry needed fewer boats development of air transport caused drop in orders for passenger liners Britain lost its export market during WWI. Post war USA & Europe more competitive and developed new technology especially Germany with diesel engines. many British yards were small firms and could not afford to modernise or experiment with new methods wall Street Crash led to Great Depression- lack of orders caused many yards to close down German & Japanese governments subsidised their yards but British govt did not. 1939- 1955 BOOM WWII meant a revival- demand for warships & merchant ships rebuilding of world navies after war. 1947 Britain provided half of world’s shipping Clydeside - over 30% of British output 1955- 1990 DECLINE Britain more seriously affected by world slump than its rivals Germany & Japan modernised. USA, Scandinavia & Korea introduced latest technology- assembly lines & pre fabrication British yards could not compete with other countries. The industry had concentrated on specialisation and quality rather than quantity. Could not adapt to new methods & technology. Yard sites made it difficult to enlarge & change layout to assembly line approach. Industrial disputes resulted in strike action British yards got a bad reputation for high costs & late delivery yards forced to close in 1960s 1985- Britain provided 2% of world shipping Government policy towards shipbuilding policy has changed with each government eg Conservative & Labour government intervention too little too late- grants & credit schemes had little effect. Labour govt reorganised the industry and gave £millions state support Conservative govt refused to prop up the industy 1977 Labour nationalised British shipbuilding when demand for ships was low after 1979 Conservatives sold off profitable yards & others were closed.