Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has cut the first steel for a new £8 million transport barge at Navantia UK’s Methil yard, marking the start of fabrication for a vessel that will play a key role in the construction of the Royal Navy’s new Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships.
The 85-metre by 25-metre barge, weighing 1,400 tonnes, will move ship blocks between Navantia UK’s Appledore yard in Devon and its Belfast facility, where final assembly of the three FSS ships will take place.
Bow sections of the support ships will be built on board the barge before transportation to Northern Ireland.
Murray said: “It is fantastic news that the team at Methil will be fabricating this barge which will play a key role in building three fleet support ships. Workers at the yard are highly skilled and will be playing a key role delivering in this important defence contract.”
The UK Government said the project represents a strategic investment positioning the Methil yard for future defence work. It will create 35 new roles, including 14 apprenticeships.
Matt Smith, Navantia UK’s general manager at Methil, said: “This project is good news for Methil and our skilled workforce and it positions us to support future defence work. We’re particularly pleased to be able to continue our established apprenticeship programme and recruit more apprentices on the back of this award, ensuring we develop the next generation of skilled marine engineers.”
Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard described the project as a demonstration of how “our Armed Forces act as an engine for growth, driving economic opportunity across the UK and delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.”
Unions also welcomed the announcement. Robert Deavy of GMB Scotland said: “We welcome this clear progress towards a secure and sustainable future for a yard that is capable of playing an important role in Scotland’s industrial strategy.” Unite industrial officer Bob MacGregor added: “The increase in new apprenticeships in particular is a great step forward for the yard… a positive development which signals that the Methil yard and its highly skilled workforce remain critical to Scotland’s industrial base.”
The Methil site, along with Arnish on the Western Isles, was acquired by Navantia UK in December 2024 following the collapse of Harland & Wolff. The UK Government backed the takeover, which secured hundreds of Scottish jobs.
Navantia UK is prime contractor for the £1.6 billion FSS programme, building three supply ships that will provide stores and ammunition to the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group while at sea. Work is shared across Navantia UK’s four yards, with final integration in Belfast.
Since acquiring the former Harland & Wolff sites, Navantia UK has begun a programme of investment to upgrade facilities, transfer knowledge and introduce new technologies across defence, maritime and renewable energy sectors. The company said the new barge will support not only the FSS programme but also future shipbuilding projects.
