A GO-getting pensioner has mounted a fresh bid in his dream to build a multi-million pound shipyard in North Wales.
In March last year Owen Davies, 74, from Connah’s Quay, unveiled plans to build Red Dragon Shipbuilding near Connah’s Quay Power Station which would create 14,000 jobs at a cost of £840 million.
The retired shipbuilder submitted his plans to Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones but they failed to come to fruition.
Mr Davies has now submitted a revised version – this time for a shipyard in Colwyn Bay and an administration centre in Deeside at a cost of £890 million.
He said: “Having a shipbuilding business here in North Wales would act like a magnet.
“Small businesses that supply shipbuilding would pop up virtually overnight.”
Mr Davies envisions a shipyard between Colwyn Bay and Llanddulas that will employ up to 12,250 people and will include four building docks, an engine shop, a main office, a medical centre, training centre and a restaurant.
There would also be an administration centre on Deeside which will employ up to 2,500 people.
Access to the shipyard would be via the A55 and a purpose-built railway line.
“I will be seeking investors and shareholders not only from the UK but from worldwide,” added Mr Davies.
“The River Dee between Chester and the Dee Estuary has been well known for boat building.”
Lincolnshire-born Mr Davies joined the army aged 19 and served with the Somerset Light Infantry from 1956-58.
He worked at The Naval Construction Research Establishment in Rosyth, Scotland, before he was transferred to the Admiralty in Bath.
He later worked as a technician at Cammell Laird Shiprepairs and Shipbuilders in Birkenhead and eight years as a standards controller at the Marconi torpedo factory in Neston.
Mr Davies has submitted his plans to Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant, Connah’s Quay councillor Aaron Shotton and councils in Flintshire, Denbighshire, Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy.