Royal Navy
Submarine 'HMS Ambush' Commissioned
The Royal Navy's latest, most advanced attack submarine commissioned into the Royal Navy at HM Naval Base Clyde. Ambush was commissioned into the Royal Navy during a ceremony overseen by the submarine’s crew, naval base workers and around 500 invited guests. Among the dignitaries attending the event was the First Sea Lord , Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, and the vessel’s sponsor, Lady Anne Soar, who were joined by representatives from the City of Derby , to which the submarine is affiliated. Also in attendance were proud family members and loved ones of the crew. Admiral Stanhope said: "It is my great pleasure to welcome HMS Ambush into the Royal Navy fleet during this important and noteworthy occasion. HMS Ambush is the second of the Royal Navy’s Astute Class submarines. These vessels represent the cutting-edge of military technology and the future of UK submarine operations for many years to come. The Astute Class vessels will contribute significantly to our mission of protecting the UK’s interests worldwide." Launched on 5 January 2011 at the BAE Systems shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness, Ambush arrived at her home port of HM Naval Base Clyde on 19 September 2012. Since then, the submarine has undergone extensive sea trials to ensure she is ready to become part of the fleet, with the White Ensign being raised for the first time on 18 January after the signing of the ‘certificate of acceptance’.
Submarine Returns To Birkenhead Yard
Cammell Laird, the international marine services company, has been awarded a contract from BAe Systems to support the important maintenance of former Royal Navy submarine, HMS Unseen, for the Royal Canadian Navy. HMS Unseen is an SSK Upholder diesel-powered conventional submarine built at Birkenhead for the Royal Navy and is one of four conventional submarines that are to be transferred from the Royal Navy to the Royal Canadian Navy over the next few years
ALSTOM Wins $102M Navy Deal
ALSTOM has won a second order of around $102 million to supply an integrated electric power and propulsion system for the Royal Navy’s Anti-Air Warfare Type 45 Destroyers. Following on from the first contract in April 2001 for batch one, this order is for batch two vessels and was awarded by BAE Systems Type 45 Destroyer Prime Contract Office. The order for the integrated electric power and propulsion system also includes the supply of major items of equipment including: 21 MWe
UK Hopes Navy Deal To Save Navy Jobs
The U.K. Ministry of Defense hopes a new contract with naval shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft would save 450 workers from the company's planned 650 job cuts announced in December. Vosper Thornycroft is building three offshore patrol vessels at its Southampton, southern England, shipyard for the Royal Navy. The vessels will replace existing ships involved with protecting fishing regulations. "Construction of the vessels is expected to safeguard around 450 jobs at Vosper Thornycroft's
BAE Get £1.2 billion UK Submarine Contract
The Ministry of Defence awards the contract for 'Audacious', the latest Astute Class attack submarine to be built for the Royal Navy. Audacious is the fourth of 7 Astute Class submarines being built for the Royal Navy. They are the most technologically-advanced the Royal Navy has ever sent to sea and offer a step-change in capability. The contract with BAE Systems will safeguard 3,000 skilled jobs at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and represents a significant step forward in the Astute
UK Tugboat in Trouble: Crew Taken Off
Eight crew members have been taken off a flooding tug boat a mile off Hope’s Nose, Torbay, on the south-west coast of England. The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency reports that the tugboat began taking water after it collided with the vessel on tow. Nearby Brixham Coastguard has been coordinating the rescue operation after the collision in the dark on Sunday evening. The RNLI Torbay all-weather lifeboat and the Exmouth all-weather lifeboat were sent to the scene
Royal Navy Adm Leads EU Anti-Piracy Ops
According to a report from Defence News, on Dec. 8, the Royal Navy's Rear Admiral Phil Jones took charge of the EU led counter-piracy naval operation, which is to operate off the coast of Somalia. The operation, called Op Atlanta, is the European Union's first naval task force, and it has been assembled to ensure the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia as well as protection to other vulnerable shipping off Somalia and to provide
New Warship Commissioned into British Fleet
HMS Dragon, 4th new Type 45 destroyer formally commissioned into the Royal Navy Fleet HMS Dragon is the fourth of six Type 45 destroyers being built for the Royal Navy. All will be based in Portsmouth. The first, HMS Daring, was commissioned in July 2009 and the fifth, Defender, is due to arrive in Portsmouth for the first time this summer. All six are scheduled to be in service by the middle of the decade. Hundreds of guests including families of the 190-strong ship's company
Warships Protect Drifting Tanker in Pirate Waters
WHILE Royal Navy ships protect the London Olympics others have rushed to prevent a pirate attack in the Middle East. The minehunters HMS Middleton and HMS Pembroke were in the Gulf of Aden on their way home when they received a distress call from the MV New Delhi Express on July 27th. The 40,000-tonne merchant ship, laden with valuable containers, contacted HMS Middleton to say she was 12 miles to the south west and had suffered an engine failure
Warship Design Unveiled for UK's Next Generation GCS
The latest design of the Royal Navy's Type 26 Global Combat Ship (T26 GCS), the next generation of warships, has been unveiled. The Ministry of Defence has released images showing the basic specification of the T26 GCS, which is a significant milestone in the development of this programme. The creation of the vessel will sustain thousands of jobs in the shipbuilding industry. The multi-mission warship, which is due to come into service after 2020
Northrop Grumman Names CEO U.K. and Europe
Northrop Grumman Corporation will appoint Andrew Tyler chief executive for the United Kingdom and Europe, effective July 1, 2013. In this new position, Tyler will play a leading role in supporting the company's current programmers, developing strategies for growth and identifying new business
Dryad Shortlisted for Safety at Sea Award
Dryad Maritime Intelligence announced that it has been short-listed in the management/operations category for their Fleet Security Management service in this years’ IHS Safety at Sea Awards. The awards recognize innovation and excellence while paying tribute to outstanding contributions made
Warships in London for Battle of Atlantic Commemorations
Three Royal Navy warships are in London to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. HMS Edinburgh, the last of the fleet’s Type 42 destroyers, is on her first stop on a round-Britain farewell tour which ends nearly 30 years of service
Babcock Wins 'HMS Scott' Support Contract
Through-life engineering support contract for the Royal Navy’s ocean survey vessel 'HMS Scott' awarded to Babcock, initially for 5 years. Under the contract, which includes an option to extend in 2018 for a further five years, Babcock will provide all aspects of through-life support for the
New Brazilian Warship Departs the U.K.
The latest addition to the Brazilian Navy’s fleet departed the UK in the snow for her new home in Rio de Janeiro where she will strengthen Brazil’s maritime security. Apa is the second of three Amazonas Class Ocean Patrol Vessels being delivered to the Brazilian Navy by BAE Systems
U.K. Defense Secretary Marks Creation of Carrier
British Secretary of State for Defense, Philip Hammond, signaled a key moment in the creation of aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth during his visit to the assembly site, Babcock’s Rosyth Dockyard. While Aircraft Carrier Alliance workers looked on, Mr
UKHO Confirms Ian Moncrief as CEO
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) confirms Moncrief in the post held on an interim basis since October 2011. The government as sole owner of the UKHO, ran an open, external and national competition for the Chief Executive role. This was a rigorous recruitment process with a panel
Destroyer Duncan Sets Sails
Duncan, the sixth and final Type 45 destroyer built by BAE Systems, has set sail from the Clyde in preparation for her handover to the U.K. Royal Navy. Duncan set off from the company’s Scotstoun yard with a combined BAE Systems and Royal Navy crew for the 600-mile journey to her new
U.K. Royal Navy Visit Saab Seaeye
The Royal Navy visited Saab Seaeye to view the company’s range of underwater vehicle technology designed for maritime defense. A delegation led by Commodore Alex Burton, head of Maritime Capability, toured the facilities at Fareham, which have recently doubled in size since the opening of
Type 45 Destroyer Duncan Delivered to the Royal Navy
The sixth and final Type 45 destroyer, Duncan, has been delivered to HM Naval Base Portsmouth by BAE Systems and will be handed over to the U.K. Ministry of Defense at a ceremony. Duncan arrived into her new home of Portsmouth for the first time this morning with a combined BAE Systems and
Small Boat Counter-offensive Contract for QinetiQ
QinetiQ Maritime contracted by UK'sMinistry of Defence (MOD) to research co-ordinated defence against attacks on Royal Naval ships. The contract is to carry out research into the co-ordinated defence of the Royal Navy fleet against the emerging threat of attacks from small
Raytheon Anschütz Systems for New Oman OPV's
Raytheon Anschütz to supply Integrated Bridge & Navigation Systems to four Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Royal Navy of Oman. Under the contract, Raytheon Anschütz will equip Oman’s new Al-Ofouq-class OPVs with a complete
Eighth and Final Royal Navy Frigate Upgraded with Sonar 2087
Following an extensive refit, HMS Portland has become the final Royal Navy Type 23 frigate to be fitted with Thales U.K.’s Sonar 2087, a towed array sonar system that enables warships to hunt submarines at considerable distances and locate them beyond the range from which they can launch an
Finning Wins Engine Service Contract with Serco
Finning Power Systems, the U.K.’s sole supplier of Caterpillar engines has signed an exclusive £2.5 million, five-year agreement with Serco, the international service company, to provide product support for all of the company’s U.K
British Private Navy Warship Held in Spain
An ex-Royal Navy officer’s converted warship has been seized by Spain amid fears he is a mercenary planning to fight pirates in Somalia. Former lieutenant Chris Enmarsh’s decommissioned gunboat Defender has been stopped from sailing since being forced to stop off in Tenerife for