Navantia UK has laid the keel of RFA Resurgent at its Appledore shipyard in North Devon, formally starting assembly of the first of three Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The milestone came with the lowering of the first block in Appledore’s dry dock and the placement of a commemorative coin beneath the section for good fortune.
Rear Admiral Matthew Stratton visited Navantia UK’s Methil yard in Fife as the site’s investment reached £26.7 million. He saw the modernisation work underway, including new welfare units, modular transporters, cutting equipment and a new Rubb building for blasting, coating and finishing work.
Rear Admiral Matthew Stratton visited Navantia UK’s Appledore yard in North Devon last week for an update on the Fleet Solid Support programme, the yard’s modernisation and the LASV75 concept. Appledore is building the bow sections of three Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ships, with final assembly, systems integration and testing due in Belfast.
Chris McDonald MP visited Harland & Wolff in Belfast after the Government published its Defence Investment Plan and confirmed key naval programmes. Navantia UK said the Fleet Solid Support programme at the yard is on time and on budget, with three 39,000-tonne supply ships under construction for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary under the £1.6 billion contract.