Southampton docks is set to play a vital role in the construction of the UK's next generation of aircraft carriers, sparking major employment for the city.

Massive sections of the two 50,000 tonne vessels are planned to be floated into the port and then assembled in the King George V dry dock as part of one of the biggest defence projects the country has ever seen.

Southampton's part in the construction programme would be central to the

success of the government's multi-

billion-pound scheme to build the aircraft carriers of the future.

Altogether 1,000 new jobs could be created across the south coast if Southampton-based shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft (VT) land a sizeable chunk of the huge defence contract. VT only has to wait until mid-January when the government will make its decision.

Company bosses have also revealed details of a pioneering scheme designed to boost long-term skills of its shipbuilding personnel aimed at eliminating the peaks and troughs of employment for new recruits and the existing workforce.

VT Group's human resources director, John Browns, said: "In preparation for the aircraft carriers, we could be looking to recruit up to 200 trainees a year.''

VT is part of two consortia headed respectively by BAE Systems and Thales, which are bidding to be named as prime contractors for the £2.7 billion carrier project.

This does not guarantee that the work will come to the south coast so a high profile campaign, led by VT and backed by trade unions, Southampton and Portsmouth city councils and industrial organisations, has been launched to ensure the government will place at least 20 per cent of the aircraft carrier build programme in the region.

The Campaign for South Coast Shipbuilding was previously successful in securing VT's role in the design,

construction and support of the Royal Navy's new Type-45 destroyer, with work starting next spring.

If VT gets the go-ahead then Southampton's large graving dock will be lined up to be used for the assembly of two huge 20,000 tonne sections, one for each carrier, made up of smaller blocks, each weighing about 5,000 tonnes.

Andrew Bunney, pictured, managing director of VT Shipbuilding, said: "There will be a significant amount of work in Southampton as part of this programme.''

Under the plan the smaller blocks will be constructed at VT's new production facility in Portsmouth Naval Dockyard, which is replacing the company's long established Woolston shipyard, floated to Southampton's Western Docks where they will be put together and then moved on again to wherever the aircraft

carriers are being completed.

The first of the new jobs would be

created from 2004 onwards, with the first aircraft carrier due in service in 2012, followed by the second three years later.

FACT FILE:

Tonnage: More than 50,000 tonnes

Length: 290 metres

Beam: 170 metres

Aircraft capacity: 50 jet fighters plus helicopters and airborne surveillance aircraft

Crew: 600 but designed to embark an extra 1,400 squadron and command staffs

Propulsion: Not nuclear but a range of options being considered, including integrated full electric propulsion

In service date: 2012 and 2015

Armament: Deploy the Joint Combat Aircraft selected by Ministry of Defence as the F-35 JSF

Budget: Approximately £2.9 billion initial acquistion and £7 billion through life