FSL Celebrates 10 Years
Naval support company Fleet Support Limited (FSL) celebrates its tenth anniversary at the end of February with the satisfaction of having played a key role in the renaissance of Portsmouth Naval Base. The Joint Venture between BAE Systems and VT Group was established originally to manage the former Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organization (FMRO). Some 1,000 employees, primarily involved in ship repair, transferred to the new company as the private sector became tasked with improving efficiency and reducing costs in the Base.FSL’s performance led to an expansion of its activities in 2003 under the Warship Support Modernisation Initiative (WSMI). The company now took on around 500 more employees responsible for delivering facilities management, logistics, transport, waterfront support and fleet-time maintenance services in the Base. WSMI also created a new identity for the Naval Base which reflected a close partnering approach between FSL and the Naval Base Commander under the umbrella of Team Portsmouth. This emphasis on working together in a seamless and open manner fueled the further renaissance of the Base and underlined Portsmouth’s claim as the “best place to support ships.” The results have continued to be impressive and FSL Managing Director Ian Booth believes that his company has been an integral part of the Naval Base change in fortunes.