Balaena

Founded in 1828, Balaena is a defense prime contractor based in Hebburn, United Kingdom working in naval systems, mro & logistics.

Balaena is a UK maritime engineering and shipbuilding group formed by bringing together several historic shipyards, including Cammell Laird (Birkenhead), A&P Tyne, A&P Falmouth, Gibdock (Gibraltar) and Padstow Boatyard. The group operates five shipyards across the UK and Gibraltar with twelve dry docks, heavy fabrication halls, specialist coatings facilities and a small-craft boatbuilding site. Its services cover shipbuilding, ship repair, refit, heavy engineering and through-life support for naval, commercial, offshore energy and small-craft customers. Naval work includes Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Class maintenance, including the 2026 Annual Certification Period for RFA Lyme Bay in Gibraltar, and contributions to Queen Elizabeth Class carrier deck modules, Astute-class submarine structures, and the RRS Sir David Attenborough. The group reports more than 2,000 staff and runs an apprenticeship programme established in 1997 and 2008. Quality and safety are managed through an Integrated Management System with ISO certification via LRQA, alongside audits from Fit for Nuclear, Achilles and Constructionline.