The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has issued an early procurement notice outlining its intention to establish long-term port service support for Royal Navy vessels operating in and around Vietnam, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The timing comes as the Royal Navy continues to expand its presence across the Indo-Pacific. UK Carrier Strike Group 25, led by HMS Prince of Wales, is currently operating in the wider region.
The requirement covers the provision of husbandry and other port services, ensuring Royal Navy ships and other authorised vessels can access support during visits to Vietnamese ports. According to the notice, the estimated value of the contract is £1 million excluding VAT, or £1.2 million including VAT.
The planned contract would run from 31 October 2025 to 1 October 2029, a period of almost four years. It is classified under port operation services and will be tendered through an open procedure. The MOD confirmed that electronic submission of bids will be required, with English as the working language.
Tenderers will need to submit bids by 24 October 2025, with an award decision scheduled for 27 October. An electronic auction will be used as part of the process. The MOD has set the enquiry deadline for interested bidders at 1 October 2025.
The department also highlighted potential risks associated with the contract, specifically the risk of operational disruption to Royal Navy ships when operating in Vietnamese military ports. Payment terms will be in accordance with standard MOD terms and conditions, which will be detailed in the invitation to tender.
The tender notice has been published as a UK3 planned procurement notice under the Procurement Act 2023. By issuing the notice early, the MOD reduces the minimum tendering period to 10 days for an above-threshold contract once the linked UK4 tender notice is released.
The planned services form part of wider logistical arrangements to ensure Royal Navy vessels are supported during operations abroad, with Vietnam now included in the list of countries where enduring service provision is being sought.
I suspect the Royal Navy discovered in 1945 that it needs basic port facilities in any port the USN is likely to use in war time after admiral King was unwilling to share.
What a prat . . King, not you Jim 🙂
I also suspect that the Royal Navy has forgotten the importance of a fleet train. Which has been allowed to basically disappear. Then ports even become more critical
Seems to confirm that Tamar and Spey will remain forward deployed in the Info-Pacific until 2029. Does that mean the Batch 1’s will get another one year life extension?
Also, in a recent speech at DSEI by First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Gen. Gwyn Jenkins said that when the CSG “next deploys to the Indo-Pacific region … in four years” (so 2029?) it will include a hybrid air group and hopefully “a combination of crewed and uncrewed vessels, in addition to autonomous ones”. But has he really got the money that this will need?
I think the Batch 1 Rivers will be replaced by Kongsberg Vanguard MCM / OPVs as a quid pro quo for the Norwegian T26 order.
You’d hope so, but I suspect the capability will be gapped. No word from any source on the replacement of the B1’s and they where initially intended to be withdrawn from service with only the B2’s to replace them.
Vietnam ? Now that’s a surprise 🤔
Why? We have been cooperating with Vietnam for some years in a casual manner, they have been participating in UN operations and even the US have ventured there I believe. With a giant bully next door who they have already had one war with and with increasing western investment (geez even Trump wants to build golf courses there) I think they are hoping for even closer ties and Europe has the advantage of not being America in the present circumstances.
Maybe a potential T31 customer?
Is the service charge included ?
I think there is a saving in the VAT if given as a tip ?
With just 13 escorts the focus has to be northern hemisphere – this is a cost we can’t afford