First RFA Tanker Arrives at Cammell Laird
British shipbuilding company Cammell Laird has welcomed the first Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel, RFA Tidespring, to its Birkenhead shipyard as part its GBP619mln deal to maintain nine vessels over the next 10 years.The 39,000 tonne Tide-class tanker RFA Tidespring is now moored for its inaugural docking period.The Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced in October 2018 that Cammell Laird had been chosen to provide support to all four Tide class tankers – RFA Tidespring, RFA Tiderace, RFA Tidesurge and RFA Tideforce – following a competitive two-year tender process.At the same time the company was awarded a second 10-year contract that will see it continue to provide support for the vessels RFA Fort Victoria…
RFA Lyme Bay Onboard Rope Training
Onboard RFA Lyme Bay, which is part of European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, the Boarding teams from the Fleet Contingency Troop and K Company 43 Commando Royal Marines have taken advantage of the Lynx MK 8 that embarked from RFA Fort Austin to practice fast roping techniques. Each stick of the boarding team conducted three separate fast roping exercises, each from different heights and to a different location on Lyme Bay: from the flight deck up to the forecastle.
Wärtsilä gensets for RFA support ship
Wärtsilä Corporation has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence to supply four diesel generating sets for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel "Fort Austin". output of 1290 kWe at 900 rpm. These sets will replace the existing outfit of eight smaller, faster-running sets. The new sets will be delivered by Wärtsilä in January 2004, and installed during the ship's forthcoming refit. for greater reliability and reduced maintenance, thereby lowering the overall costs. engine. She carries ammunition and other stores for replenishing Royal Navy warships at sea. more than 20 ships in the civilian-manned RFA fleet supplying RN warships at sea with stores and fuel. They operate world-wide. This is the latest in a series of contracts concerning RN and RFA ships awarded to Wärtsilä.
A&P Tyne Gets Refit Contract
A&P Tyne Ltd, part of A&P Group Ltd, has been awarded the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) refit contract on RFA Fort Austin for the UK Ministry of Defense. The contract is to carry out planned maintenance and capability enhancements to this auxiliary fleet replenishment ship, built on the Clyde in 1975. The vessel arrived in Tyneside and moored alongside the Bede Quay at the Hebburn yard on July 23 and docked down on August 15. The total contract period is 103 days and will employ at peak over 400 personnel with an A&P core workforce of approximately 200. RFA Fort Austin has been in continuous service with the RFA Flotilla since 1978 and has seen service in the Falklands war in 1982…
Carter Hall Conducts Coalition Operations in the Gulf of Aden
USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Austin (A 386) and its embarked helicopter detachment 857th Royal Naval Air Squadron, and Federal German Ship Köln (F 211) are conducting maritime operations as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. CTF 150 is responsible for maritime operations in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, North Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. Through cooperation, these units drastically increase their individual capabilities. Flying two ASAC-7 Sea King helicopters, each equipped with the Searchwater 2000 radar, the aviators of the 857th are capable of locating and classifying contacts several hundred miles away. Between Carter Hall’s air assets and those of the 857th, the coalition partners have the ability to cover a much larger area with fewer ships.
