Maritime heritage and sustainability Social Enterprise, the Clyde Docks Preservation Initiative (CDPI), welcome the announcement this week that work is about to start on restoration of the No. 1 dry dock at Govan graving docks as a ship repair and maintenance facility. We have awaited this with interest since the proposal was first mooted in 2020.
We are calling on the entire marine industry on the Clyde to back this project, to support the rebirth of ship repair in Govan as a key part of a resurgence of maritime industry on the Clyde. We also call on all public sector agencies; Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Government as well as potential investors to get fully behind this project to help ensure it is a success and able to further expand into the other two dry docks at Govan in the future – as a state of the art, sustainable maritime facility and community hub.
This coupled with the development of the Scottish Marine Technology Park, strong orders for BAE Systems in Govan/Scotstoun and further investment in Inverclyde; will ensure a bright future for the Clyde as a maritime region. We urge the entire Clyde to unite behind that vision.
Renewed interest in industry and economic development on the Clyde, spurred to a great extent through Clyde Mission and the City Region Deal, can really be taken advantage of here and developed to its full potential. Govan can become an exemplar for rebirth of clean, sustainable, urban industry fit for the 21st century – with high skilled local jobs and training.
There is so much potential on the Clyde to support sustainable, zero-emissions shipping, offshore energy and marine research in the decades ahead. What is needed is the political will to ensure all stops are pulled out to revive maritime activity on the Clyde and ensure it is fit to once again compete with other maritime regions around the world.
We also call on the Govan community to come together through the Govan Docks Regeneration Trust – to help maximise the benefits of this maritime regeneration for the area and explore the potential for community ownership in the long term. Govan needs to take ownership of the emerging process so local needs are genuinely met.
There are many stories to tell about the past, present and future of the Govan dry docks. Along with Govan Docks Regeneration Trust we will be working to bring these stories together through our Turning the Tide On the Clyde programme this year. We are currently in the process of mapping the tangible and intangible resources of the Clyde with core focus on community recreation and tourism.
The Clyde has so much potential to leverage its past, present and future maritime heritage as a major selling point for its visitor market as well as investment in future industry. This announcement follows years of advocating for return of ship repair work to Govan, alongside development of a maritime heritage location, by CDPI, Govan Docks Regeneration Trust and our collaborative networks. The voices we have all worked tirelessly to unify are finally being heeded.
CDPI Blog 