THE first ship to be built on the Tyne for almost a decade is due to be officially named tomorrow.

The Swan Hunter shipyard, in Wallsend, North Tyneside, has completed work on the 22,000-tonne Royal Fleet Auxiliary Largs Bay amphibious landing craft.

The yard secured the £140m Ministry of Defence contract in 2000, securing its future and reviving shipbuilding in the North-East.

Since then, it has invested in its workforce and has set about winning more contracts.

Swan Hunter designed the now completed Largs Bay and work has begun on its sister ship, the Lyme Bay.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: ''RFA Largs Bay is designed to get troops, vehicles and equipment directly to where they are needed most, for operational or humanitarian missions.

"We are extremely happy with the way this project has been undertaken. Swan Hunter has put an awful lot of effort in to ensure this is not a one-off.

"They have invested in apprenticeships and they want to use those skills to win future contracts."

Lady West, wife of First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West, will officially name the vessel at a ceremony at the yard tomorrow lunchtime.

... and tall ship captains set a course for Tyne

THE North-East is on target to help create the best ever Tall Ships' Race following a warm reception from captains around the world considering taking part in the 2005 event.

Newcastle-Gateshead will be the only UK port taking part in the race.

Representatives from the cities began the first phase of a marketing campaign in Gdynia, Poland, another of the ports involved in this year's race.

The Newcastle-Gateshead group joined representatives from Waterford, Cherbourg and Fredrikstad, other cities staging legs of the 2005 race, to host a captains' reception on board Prince William, one of the UK's tall ships.

More than 30 captains and senior officers from countries ranging from Mexico to Ireland attended the event.

Contacts were also forged with ships from Russia and Germany, countries with some of the largest and most impressive tall ships of all.

Phil Payne, lead officer of the Tall Ships' Race, said: "We received a very warm welcome from the captains we met, particularly those who remembered Newcastle-Gateshead from the 1993 race.

"Many said they were looking forward to a return visit in 2005 to renew old friendships and see how much the quayside has been transformed."

The Tall Ships' Race is guaranteed to attract thousands of additional tourists to the area and help raise the region's international profile.

It is also guaranteed to generate a significant boost to the North-East's economy.

The Tall Ships' Race brought £38m worth of income into the region in 1993, but it is estimated that the event in 2005 could bring up to a £50m cash injection.

Led by Newcastle City Council, the North-East's bid to host the race was won against fierce competition in a joint effort with Gateshead Council, One NorthEast and the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative.