The new ship will increase the charity’s capacity to offer youngsters a six-day voyage at sea learning skills such as engineering, electronic communication and chart systems, cooking and stewarding as well as social skills and teamwork.

Once the mould is made, the boat will be built and fitted out at Bridgend's humidity and temperature controlled hangar at Mount Batten.

The yard, which has been trading since 1986, employs 27 people and says the contract will give it stability.