It is that dry dock which is the main reason there is still a marine business in Hebburn. It is the largest such dock on the east coast. An ideal dock for repair and maintenance of ships and oil/gas platforms of all sizes. A&P Hebburn also made some of the sections for the two UK aircaft carriers. A&P was effectively formed from an amalgamation of Austin & Pickersgill with Appledore (via various other company name and organisation changes) and also has sites in Middlesbrough and Falmouth.