United Kingdom buys logistics support ships for the Navy

The British Defence Ministry has arranged a tender for the purchase of two fleet logistics support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary with an option to order the third. Order could be worth a billion pounds.

The tender is also a consequence of the 2015 UK Strategic Defence Review. In this document, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence expressed demand for three logistics support vessels. However, the tender is a modification of the strategic review provisions, as the Ministry has announced that the procedure concerns the purchase of two units with the possibility of purchasing a third one under option law.

According to tender requirements, ships will have a cargo capacity of up to 7,000 m3 and will swim at march speed of 18 knots. Ships shall be capable of transporting large quantities of cargo of a total weight of up to 5 tonnes. With this load, the ships should be able to maintain a speed of 12 knots.

The British Ministry of Defence also requires potential ship suppliers to be able to refuel at sea and to conduct maritime operations worldwide.

The supply ships will be used by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. This is a formation whose task is to provide logistical support for Royal Navy units. The role of logistics support ships is to deliver to water vessels carrying out combat operations e.g. ammunition, food and other goods.

As we have already written on the Shipyard Portal, British trade unions and Labourers demand that the government order the production of logistics support ships to British shipyards. Ordering could be worth £1 billion.

Signature: TZ