Mod News

Griffin-Woodhouse, a West Midlands based company, has secured a long-term contract as Key Supplier/Subcontractor to Briggs Marine to supply chain and accessories to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in UK, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Ascension and Falkland Islands.The contract, which is the single largest in GWEC’s history, has been awarded by Briggs Marine Contractors, a Scottish based company which itself recently secured the MoD’s contract for the Supply and Maintenance of Authority Moorings, Markers and Targets.

Babcock has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BAE Systems Bofors to offer a comprehensive package of support for the Royal Navy’s Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates multi-purpose Bofors guns.Babcock and BAE Systems Bofors will work collaboratively for the anticipated in-service support (ISS) opportunity for the Bofors 40 Mk4 and 57 Mk3 Naval Gun Systems.The companies are already working together as the Bofors guns are being installed on the fleet of five Type 31…

Portland Port in Dorset, UK celebrated the twin christening of two new vessels. Dignitaries and guests watched the christening of the Wyke Castle tug and the Silverwell pilot boat on the Dorset port’s Dock Jetty before an demonstration of the vessels’ capabilities.The multi-million-pound investment in the new boats for Portland Harbor Authority comes as the port continues to grow. It follows the opening of a USD$35.4m (£26m) new deepwater berth in 2023.Portland Port chairman Christopher Langham was joined for the naming ceremony by the Naval Regional Commander for Wales…

Briggs Marine has announced its role as Key Subcontractor to Serco following the recent award of the Royal Navy’s Maritime Services contracts.This milestone marks the continuation of a partnership that has spanned over 17 years, delivering critical marine support services to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). The contract will see Briggs deliver Range Safety and Aircrew Training (RSACT) services at a number of locations around the UK.The subcontract is in addition to Brigg’s recent award of its Contract to deliver moorings…

Lloyd's Register (LR) has announced a milestone in its naval assurance services, having secured a 12-month in-service submarine support contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) through the Aurora Framework.Under the new contract, LR will provide experienced surveyors to His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, providing expert support to the Royal Navy’s submarines. In parallel, LR will offer technical consultancy from MOD Abbey Wood, delivering strategic advice. This dual-location presence ensures responsive…

Briggs Marine, a leading provider of marine services, has been awarded a contract with the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) to supply and maintain Authority Moorings, Markers, and Targets over the next eight years with a forecast revenue of USD$244 million (£182 million).The successful bid is the largest defense contract to be awarded to the Fife-based company to date and forms part of the MoD’s ‘next generation of marine services’ program. It will see Briggs deliver a scheduled maintenance…

The UK's National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has renewed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Royal Navy, reinforcing a long-standing partnership in marine science and technology. The MOU, which includes collaboration with the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the Ministry of Defense (MOD)’s science and technology organization, underscores a shared commitment to fostering innovation and advances in autonomous and robotic underwater systems.With expertise from NOC Innovations…

Babcock International Group has been awarded a USD$84 million (£65 million), five-ship contract to deliver the Capability Insertion Period (CIP) for the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates being built by the company at its Rosyth facility in Scotland.The CIP adds crucial capabilities that will support the ships throughout their life and includes the insertion, testing and enhancement of a number of upgrades that will enhance the Type 31’s military capability.The activities will take place at Babcock’s facility in Rosyth…

Britain said on Friday it had awarded Rolls-Royce RR.L a $11 billion eight-year contract to design, make and support the nuclear reactors that power its fleet of submarines, amid U.S. calls for higher defence spending.The deal will strengthen the Royal Navy's continuous at-sea deterrent - under which at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine patrols the seas at all times - while also boosting the AUKUS defence pact with the United States and Australia, Britain's Ministry of Defence (MOD) said.Amid rising tensions with Russia…

General Dynamics Mission Systems was awarded a fixed-price-incentive, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-only contract from the U.S. Navy in December for up to $808.6 million to produce MK 54 MOD 1 Lightweight Torpedo Kits and related test equipment, spares, provisioned item orders, engineering support and hardware support for the MK 54 Lightweight Torpedo Program. Work will be performed in Canonsburg, PA, and is expected to be completed by December 2032.“Our Progeny Systems employees have been providing advanced torpedo electronics to the U.S. and allied Navies for 18 years. This contract ensures that our surface ships and aircraft will have the most modern and capable torpedoes in the world for many years to come…

Ocean Safety will be launching an addition to its man overboard Jon Buoy range - the Jon Buoy Recovery Module MK 6 Valise - at SMM 2024 in September.Suited to bulkhead stowage, the Jon Buoy Recovery Module MK 6 Valise is a full man overboard (MOB) solution enabling deployment of a device that can locate, support and recover a MOB.The valise version allows the Jon Buoy Recovery Module to be fitted to vessels where an over water fitting option is not possible and is an ideal addition to pilot boats, port control work boats and other commercial vessels, says the company.

Britain's defence ministry said on Sunday a statement by Yemen's Houthis that they had fired ballistic missiles at a British destroyer in the Red Sea was false.The Houthis did not say whether the attack they said they had carried out on the HMS Diamond had caused any damage, but described it as "accurate"."These claims are untrue," a British Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson said.The Houthis said they had also attacked two commercial vessels which they identified as the Norderney and Tavvishi.The statement said the Tavvishi - which was in the Arabian Sea - and the Norderney had both been

Britain's Ministry of Defence said on Sunday it would spend 405 million pounds ($514 million) to upgrade a missile system now being used by the Royal Navy to shoot down hostile drones over the Red Sea.The Sea Viper Air Defence system will be upgraded with missiles featuring a new warhead and software enabling it to counter ballistic missile threats, the MoD said in a statement.The contracts were awarded to the British division of MBDA, a missiles joint venture owned by Airbus…

GE Vernova's Power Conversion business in the UK has been chosen by Team Resolute to supply advanced hybrid propulsion technology for three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD).Team Resolute is a consortium created by Spanish shipbuilder and defense company Navantia, shipbuilder Harland & Wolff and naval architects BMT to deliver the FSS program, for which Navantia UK, the UK subsidiary of Navantia, is prime contractor.The 216-meter-long ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) will be designed with an emphasis on minimizing carbon emissions.

Esgian's last roundup of the year for the Week 52 puts spotlight on new developments for Dolphin Drilling semisub, Seadrill drillships, as well as Shell’s plans for Australia and ONGC’s new tender for jackups in India.ContractsDolphin Drilling has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with an undisclosed operator for the 1,500-ft semisubmersible Borgland Dolphin to undertake a 500-day drilling campaign in the UK. The drilling campaign is planned to begin directly after the firm part of the contract period with EnQuest, which was announced in late November 2023.

Babcock has been awarded two further contracts for work on the UK’s new Dreadnought Class submarine worth a combined £121 million.The contracts include a 4.5-year £66 million contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide input into the development of the support solution for the UK’s new Dreadnought Class submarines. The new Class of submarine will replace the Vanguard Class in the early 2030s to maintain a Continuous At Sea Deterrent.Babcock will also provide the MOD with technical and management support…

Defense contractor Babcock has signed a four-year £750 million (~$916 million) contract with the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), to deliver the infrastructure required to support and sustain the UK’s submarines for decades to come.As part of the major infrastructure program underway at the Devonport site, Babcock said it would deliver substantial upgrades to existing infrastructure that will support the future capability of the Royal Navy and the…

A converted offshore support vessel has taken on a new life as a dedicated underwater surveillance ship for the U.K.'s Royal Navy.Christened during a ceremony in London on October 10, RFA Proteus will be operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as a launchpad for remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) and a home to a suite of specialist capabilities similar to those found in the offshore oil and gas industry.The ship, built in 2017 as a subsea construction vessel named Topaz Tangaroa, was acquired by the U.K.

Team Resolute, a consortium of Navantia UK, BMT and Harland & Wolff, has unveiled its evolved design for a Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship.The progress towards a mature design is a key part of the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) £1.6 billion 'Manufacture Contract’ for three FSS ships that will provide the Royal Fleet Auxiliary with enhanced capability to support global operations for the Royal Navy. The design from BMT’s UK based engineers and naval architects represents a significant advancement in naval logistics capability…

Silverstream Technologies appointed Catriona Savage into the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Savage will lead the continued development of the innovative Silverstream System and will further develop the technical centre-of-excellence built by Silverstream Technologies. The new role will lead on Product Development and Application Engineering and all aspects of product quality, safety and performance.Savage joins Silverstream following a career at BMT as Technical Assurance and Capability Director…

BMT announced it has signed a subcontract with Navantia UK, formalizing its role in delivering the £1.6 billion Fleet Solid Support (FSS) program for the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).Under the terms of the contract, BMT will be responsible for delivering critical design, through life support and training packages. For all three 216m long vessels for the RFA, BMT will be providing functional design but also services that will ensure the ships can operate efficiently, safely, securely and in line with environmental requirements.

A specialist ship purchased by the U.K. Royal Navy to support mine-hunting operations has arrived in Plymouth.When deployed, the vessel will be based at Naval Base Clyde and used as a mother ship tp support the safeguarding of U.K. waters from the threat of mines at sea, operating a range of uncrewed systems that will help keep personnel at a safe distance under Project Wilton.Purchased from Norway's Island Offshore, the the 96.8-meter-long vessel – currently named Island Crown…

The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) announced that Mark Heward has joined its team as Director. Heward came aboard with MITAGS in October 2022, after retiring from a 22-year active service career in the Royal Navy.“We are thrilled to welcome Mark Heward aboard as the Director of MITAGS. Mark’s underway time, leadership, management and training experience together with being fully STCW qualified and his continuing education experience are a rare combination,” said Eric Friend, MITAGS Executive Director.