Another milestone has been marked on the programme to build new support vessels for Royal Navy warships, with work starting at Navantia’s yard in Cadiz, Spain.
The first steel was cut on RFA Resurgent, the first of three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) vessels for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, in a ceremony in December at the British Appledore shipyard in north Devon.
Construction is taking place across three sites, with Navantia making the 120m central sections of the ships at its Puerto Real shipyard in Cadiz. And eventually the 39,000-ton, 216-metre vessels will be assembled at the Harland & Wolff yard in Belfast.
Last week’s steel cutting ceremony in Spain was attended by the U.K. Defence Attaché in Spain, Captain Antony Crabb, and Navantia’s Director of Operations and Business, Gonzalo Mateo-Guerrero.
Capt. Crabb remarked: “The start of construction in Puerto Real marks a significant milestone… today’s event marks the transition of the FSS programme from the design phase to production. The modules built in Spain will then be transferred to the integration shipyard in Belfast.
“We look forward to continuing our collaboration as we move forward with the delivery of these important vessels for the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary.”
And Mr Mateo-Guerrero added: “The start of work at this shipyard demonstrates Navantia’s commitment to a vitally important client. We are putting our best capabilities at the service of this programme and its execution with the highest levels of quality and rigour.”
Navantia UK took over the £1.6bn FSS contract when it acquired Harland & Wolff last year after the firm went into administration. RFA Resurgent is scheduled to enter service in 2031.
- You can read more details on the Navantia website