Fendercare Marine has been awarded a contract to supply the Type 31 Frigate programme with deck and mooring equipment.
Fendercare Marine, the world’s leading supplier of high-quality marine equipment, and largest retailer and lessor of Yokohama fenders, is proud to have been awarded the contract to supply the UK’s five new Type 31 frigates with all their deck and mooring equipment.
Babcock International will build the vessels for the Royal Navy, which will be constructed at Rosyth in Scotland.
Described as ‘the next generation of frigates’ and to be known as the ‘Inspiration class’, the five general purpose ships will be delivered to the Royal Navy by the end of 2028.
Commencing later this year, Fendercare will start to equip HMS Active, Bulldog, Campbeltown, Formidable and Venturer, with complete ship sets including:
- Ten Anchors
- Over 2,700m of 50mm anchor chains (a length equivalent to 1.67 miles)
- Over 125 ancillary anchor components
- Ten bespoke chain stoppers
- 65 double bollards
- 50 deck mounted cable drums
- 85 bulwark chocks
- Ten deck chocks
- Five pedestal rollers
Over the last decade alone, Fendercare say they have been entrusted to provide the Royal Navy with over 2,000 pneumatic fenders, as well as anchors, chains, and deck equipment. Prior to the Ministry of Defence’s current Type 31 project, Fendercare also won the order to equip the first three of the Type 26 Frigates with complete ship sets.
Type 31, is for me a really exciting concept. Affordable ships that are still credible and capable. Just what is needed post Brexit.
We’ll need to see what T32 is CAM, I know there has been talk of their role being a bit different but I’m hoping for T31+.
There is a risk type 32 will emerge as a mothership for drones, primarily anti mine and mine clearance thereby allowing MOD to scrap the ageing mine hunter fleet with an inadequate replacement.
Watch this space.
I would much prefer type 32 to be a fully loaded an armed general purpose frigate with heavier armament fit then type 31. Possibly optimised for surface and land attack warfare.
“Worst” case is that if the T32 design is delayed, they could at least plug the gap with two or three extra T31s, rather like they did with the River B2s when the T26 was delayed
Affordable? Yes.
Credible? Not really.
Thanks for the update UKDJ. Good to know the T31 program is on track. Quite a few component orders have been placed now…..
To be able to berth a Frigate properly, it takes a steady hand on the Tiller and a deft tug boat Pilot…… otherwise, it usually ends in an abrupt bump ……… well that’s how I remember things !!!!! 😀
This is the most interesting part of the article; “the five general purpose ships will be delivered to the Royal Navy by the end of 2028.”
First time I have seen 2028 as the delivery date for the five ships. Usually, it is 2030 (although I suppose 2030 is maor appropriate for FOC.
Cheers CR
Target in service date of Feb 2030 so they will need a year at minimum of fitout and commissioning after delivery.
Hi Watchzero,
Agreed, but the above comment suggest ALL five ships delivered by 2028 / 30.
Previous reports have suggested that delivery would run into the 2030’s, indeed many on here commented on that timescale given the ship was supposed to be “cost effective” and quick to build and 2030’s before all were delivered did not seem that quick.
On the other hand ALL delivered (even if not at FOC) by 2028, if correct, would be quite an achievement for Babcock
Cheers CR
I wonder where all those anchors, fenders and chains are made?