Babcock International Group has confirmed revised timescales for its first two Type 31 Inspiration Class frigates, announcing that HMS Venturer is now expected to float off in the first half of the 2025-26 financial year (FY26), with the second vessel, HMS Active, slated for the second half of FY26.
The company stated:
“We are progressing the build of the first three ships in the Type 31 Inspiration Class frigate programme. We expect the float-off of the first ship, HMS Venturer, to be in the first half of FY26 and float-off of the second ship, HMS Active, in the second half of FY26.”
The update comes as part of Babcock’s latest trading statement, which reported a stronger outlook for the full year ending 31 March 2025, driven by “double-digit organic growth in Nuclear and strong growth in Marine.”
Chief Executive David Lockwood commented:
“Today’s announcement demonstrates that successful execution of our strategy is continuing to deliver value for all our stakeholders. Our engineering skills and know-how are in ever greater demand and with significant opportunities before us, I look forward to further profitable growth.”
Babcock originally targeted an earlier float-off date for HMS Venturer, but we understand that it now plans to keep the vessel inside the assembly hall longer to ensure build quality and take advantage of protected working conditions.
Together, HMS Venturer and HMS Active represent the first two of five Inspiration Class frigates under construction, conceived to bolster the Royal Navy’s future capabilities.
At the UK Defence Journal, we aim to deliver accurate and timely news on defence matters. We rely on the support of readers like you to maintain our independence and high-quality journalism. Please consider making a one-off donation to help us continue our work. Click here to donate. Thank you for your support!
When does the Financial year start?
Also side note which dry docks will outfitting be done in, can’t all be done pierside?
Depends if outfitting is mostly done in the shed.
If it has been done and all that is needed is the mast then all is well and good.
If it is in the water as a hulk then there are big problems.
Don’t prop shafts have to happen in drydock? T26 iirc has them installed after float off
FY 2026 starts September 2025, so first half FY 2026 could still be this year.
According to NavalToday, Babcocks FY26 starts 01. 07.2025
It’s confusing. Government’s fiscal/tax year ends 5th April. I’ve always thought that is the date that MOD and other government departments work to. Happy to be corrected.
End of year statements from Babcocks 31 March..so it’s got a 1april to 31 March financial year.
May 1 st
It says so in the article:
“The update comes as part of Babcock’s latest trading statement, which reported a stronger outlook for the full year ending 31 March 2025”
So April 1st. No fooling!
Depends on ‘why’.
If ‘why’ is that all the whistles and bells are added then good.
If ‘why’ is that we can’t build a ship due to skills/labour shortages not such good news.
As many of us said the T31 timetable was fantasy given it was a first fresh build for a yard.
When the Type 31 programme was announced some of us on here did allude to exercising caution as to how the contract could be delivered and what would be delivered. As you say it was the first start to finish build for Babcock’s. No doubt some will still be pleading for more T31’s to be ordered, which is not a bad thing but let’s wait for Venturer to successfully complete Sea Trials first
Hi SB, Mmm I’ve actually given up trying to keep tabs on the launch or in service dates for this class. For a supposedly “modular design” which is based on a previously built ship (built outside next to the Baltic) it’s just baffling as to why they still portray this in a positive way.
So I’m just going to ignore any Babcock announcements until we have the only single reliable indicator of an actual launch date.
And I kind of think it will be late Spring / early Summer and that’s because NL reports that the “Malin Augusta CD01” barge has been moved to Rosyth which they will need to get her into the water. Now she could be there as she isn’t being used and the next scheduled “launch” is at Rosyth but shifting it from the West to East coast via the Pentland Firth isn’t something you just do without ££££’s at the end of it.
In other words I’ll believe it’s happening when Babcock announce a firm definite date as that means they have put their money where its mouth is and leases it.
So to all UKDJ folks (including our wonderful journalists) can anyone confirm if the barge is at Rosyth please ?
On a more serious note I do wonder if this continual series of delays / resets will effect future orders for Babcock 🤔
“Now she could be there as she isn’t being used and the next scheduled “launch” is at Rosyth but shifting it from the West to East coast via the Pentland Firth isn’t something you just do without ££££’s at the end of it.”
I agree.
But it may be that the Malin barge is outfitted for the lift and so isn’t much use for anything else? And that the barge is contracted for the duration of T26 program so the T31 delays don’t actually increase costs?
And that storing the barge at Rosyth is actually the most cost effective location for that.
I agree that a tow that long won’t be free issue but what would Peel charge to store something like that – quite a lot I would think.
Whereas Babkcock could say that they would store it FOC in their outer DD and as it is going to be for a good long time as that would take part of the sting out for MoD.
All guesswork!
Yes, but better an attempt at a positive timescale and falling shy than attempt at a longer timescale…. and still falling shy.
It was a massive undertaking for Babcock’s, it should have been more realistic from the start, it might have even induced a bit of panic in the MOD resulting in a couple of more Type 26.
George
Headline is misleading. 1st half of FY26 means before 30th September 2025, so is consistent with prior statements made of “spring 2025” for HMS Venturer.
HMS Active between October 2925 and March 2026…probably nearer the latter
* October 2025
Thank you for clarifying
I think you’re right. Babcock accounts refer to y/e 31/3/24 as FY 24. So first half of FY 26 is 6 months to 30/9/25.
Why not just say so?
Should of had Cat’s and Traps.
Please don’t swear at me It’s only banter.
It’s fitted for but not with cats. There’s a litter box at the end of the captain’s cabin.
I understood the barge to be used to lower Venturer into the water had now arrived at Rosyth, with roll-out and launch due in the near future?
Go Babcock!!
Hello DL, glad to see you are still here and not banned by the normal embedded entitled clique.
Keep up the great work.