Work begins on first of five Navy warships
WORK has officially started on a £1.25 billion project to build the Royal Navy’s five new warships as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace cut steel for the first vessel.
The ceremony for HMS Venturer yesterday took place at Babcock’s facility at Rosyth in Fife, where the new Type 31 frigates are being built.
The newest of the Royal Navy’s frigate fleet will undertake a variety of roles on operations including interception and disruption of illegal activity at sea, intelligence gathering, defence engagement and providing humanitarian support.
Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Nick Hine and International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan were among the dignitaries present at the event, along with Director General Ships, Vice Admiral Chris Gardner of Defence Equipment and Support.
Mr Wallace described the event as a “great milestone in the renaissance of British shipbuilding”.
He said: “Today is a momentous occasion for the Type 31 programme, defence and the shipbuilding industry in Scotland. As
Shipbuilding Tsar, to cut the steel for the first of five new frigates that will be constructed here on our shores in the Firth of the Forth, providing jobs and innovation to the area, is a tremendous honour.”
The Type 31 will be equipped with innovative technology and will have advanced capabilities fitted onboard, including MBDA’s Sea Ceptor, a supersonic anti-air missile defence system, as well as a 57mm and two 40mm Bofors naval guns, a 4D radar system and the space to house a Royal Navy helicopter.