In response to a question posed by Graeme Downie, Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, about the potential locations for the build and assembly of Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships, the Ministry of Defence provided insight into the ongoing plans.
Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, confirmed that on current plans, the ships will still be constructed across multiple locations, centred on Belfast.
He noted that blocks of the three FSS ships are expected to be built in Harland & Wolff shipyards in Belfast and Appledore in Devon, as well as Navantia’s shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. Pollard also confirmed that assembly and integration of the vessels will take place in Belfast.
Pollard assured that the delivery of the FSS ships remains a top priority for the Ministry, amidst wider discussions about the future of Harland & Wolff and its financial status.
“Successful delivery of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) Ships project remains a priority. On current plans, the three FSS ships will be assembled from blocks which are expected to be built in Harland & Wolff (H&W) shipyards in Belfast and Appledore in Devon and Navantia’s shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. Assembly and integration of the ships is planned to take place in Belfast.
Following a review of H&W’s financial situation, the Government is clear that the market is best placed to address the challenges the company is facing. We continue to work extensively with all parties to find an outcome for the company that continues to deliver shipbuilding and manufacturing in the UK.”
Ongoing Engagement
Recent updates regarding the future of Harland & Wolff’s shipyard in Belfast highlight significant engagement between the Ministry of Defence and Navantia UK, the prime contractor for the FSS ships. Despite the financial struggles facing the Belfast yard, the government continues to explore solutions aimed at securing both jobs and shipbuilding capability.
Harland & Wolff, renowned for constructing the Titanic, has encountered financial difficulties in recent years. This led to its entrance into administration in 2024, raising concerns over the future of its workforce and its ability to fulfill obligations for naval contracts like the FSS. However, there has been a concerted effort to safeguard operations, and discussions between the MoD and the Chancellor of the Exchequer are ongoing.
These efforts also coincide with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) vision for the Fleet Solid Support programme, which will deliver ships designed to resupply the Royal Navy at sea, while offering logistical and operational support on various missions. Designed to be energy-efficient and adaptable for future Carbon Zero goals, these ships will have a key role in supporting the Royal Navy’s global operations well into the future.
Fleet Solid Support
According to DE&S, Fleet Solid Support (FSS) will provide support ships designed to deliver crucial munitions, supplies and provisions to the Royal Navy while at sea.
“They will provide logistical and operational support, including counter-piracy and counter-terrorism missions and will collaborate with allies on operations.Each ship will have a core RFA crew of 101, with accommodation provided for an additional 80 personnel operating helicopters, boats, or performing other roles when required.
The ships are designed with an emphasis on minimising carbon emissions, equipped with energy-efficient technologies to decrease power consumption and are adaptable to reduce their carbon footprint by using low-carbon, non-fossil fuels, and future sustainable energy sources. They are also designed to be adaptable from the outset to achieve a Carbon Zero status by the end of their 30-year operational lifespan.
The production of the first FSS is expected to begin in 2025 across three shipyards and all three ships will enter service after final equipment fits and military trials, by 2032.”
When? talked about, thought about, but not yet started like every thing else ifs/buts/may be’s.
Fair question but there is more than one party required to make this happen so ….
I think the Government will need to make and receive some guarantees. So probably not too long.
hope so, does seem to be a lot messing about and time wasting to get them started. pity
RFA pay and conditions (and recruitment) need to be properly addressed first. If their grievances continue to be ignored then any talk of shipbuilding is just p****** in the wind
I don’t think we need to put anything in any particular order.
The RFA are effectively as necessary as the RN. Suggest we simply join them up. Review the terms and conditions once and then index link them. Simples.
It’s not that simple. RFA Sailors more than likely won’t want to or aren’t qualified to join the Royal Navy
Madness.
Nationalize H&W. Invest in it. Give continuous RN orders. Give better pay and conditions for RFA.
😂 Throw money at it in other words. Probably the most expensive and inefficient way of dealing with a minor problem. Are you a cabinet minister by any chance?
The last yard in the UK that was nationalised cost the Scottish taxpayer millions and was bailed out with BAe, a private company, giving it work. It’s still not in a position to deliver a working vessel years after nationalisation.
A “top priority”
Is it me or have they been talking about this for the best part of a decade?
With not so much as a single bit of work even started.
While selling of or scrapping 3 of the 4 FSS we had and letting the 4th become unusable.
MoD could have ordered these from S Korea years ago and I suggest they would have been well on the way by now.
Meantime, the QEC Group is hamstrung.
So no, HMG, I call bullshit on you.
I agree, at this point it is much more important we get the ships than domestic build. We should have bid these along with the Tides, no one batted an eye lid about tankers made in South Korea and Solid Store Ships would have been no different.
I remember supporting such a buy years ago here and getting shouted down by those who support UK industry orders above all else it seems. So my suggestion will not be without its critics. We then had the merry go round as to whether they are “warships” or not, and the criticism of the Conservatives that as they were not warships they might be built abroad. There was meltdown here. I wish they’d got on and done exactly that. Anyway, we still, after a decade, have not started build. As I often say, HMG make industry and jobs a priority… Read more »
We have no problem having aircraft or military equipment built overseas or by foreign companies so why do we have such a problem with ships, particularly support ships that are generally not comparatively sophistcated.. As nation we spend so much time on costly dithering it’s a wonder we get anything built.
Carbon zero goals. Hahaha, we are so dead.