Nationally-owned Scottish shipbuilding firm Ferguson Marine has secured a contract to deliver elements of the future Royal Navy Type 26 frigate HMS Birmingham.
The shipyard, nationalised by the Scottish government in 2019, has been contracted by BAE Systems to produce three structural components for the new warship, the fourth of five Type 26 frigates currently under construction out of a scheduled programme of eight.
Each vessel comprises around 60 structural units which are assembled at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard before being floated off and transferred to its Scotstoun facility for testing and commissioning.
Ferguson Marine has already built units for HMS Belfast, the third frigate in the Type 26 programme; steel-cutting on the new units for HMS Birmingham is expected to begin shortly.
The first two new Type 26 frigates, HMS Glasgow and HMS Cardiff are scheduled to enter service with the Royal Navy in 2028; HMS Glasgow was formally named in a ceremony in Scotstoun in October 2024 and fitting-out work had begun on HMS Cardiff at the same yard the previous month.
HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham are currently being built side by side in BAE Systems’ new Janet Harvey Hall in the Govan shipyard; steel has also been cut on the fifth warship, the future HMS Sheffield.
Ferguson Marine CEO Graeme Thomson commented: “This contract is a significant step for Ferguson Marine and will enable us to play a role in enhancing the U.K.’s world-class maritime capability.
“In recent years Ferguson Marine has been working with BAE Systems, and as the last commercial shipbuilder on the Clyde, we are uniquely positioned to act as an extension of the important work happening under the Type 26 programme.
“As we seek to add to our book of orders, this proves the ability of our skilled workforce to secure new business. We are committed to expanding our experience, with this representing an important opportunity to grow the skill of the younger members of our workforce, to win future commercial contracts in this and related markets.”
- You can read more details on the Ferguson Marine website