The Ministry of Defence is reviewing employment conditions for Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) personnel amid rising concern over continuous sea deployments and work-life balance.
The announcement came during a House of Lords exchange, where Defence Minister Lord Coaker acknowledged the issue and pledged further attention.
Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie pressed the government on the matter, citing the RFA’s unique contractual arrangements and operational pressures. “The Minister is well aware of the peculiar position of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s contracts. What assurances can he give me that the MoD will be looking at issues such as continuous days at sea and better work/life balance requirements for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary?” she asked.
Lord Coaker responded by reaffirming the government’s awareness of the importance of the RFA and said the department would continue to examine what more could be done to address its concerns. He referenced a recent overseas visit to underscore his commitment.
“I was recently in Singapore, where, as well as seeing the carrier and HMS Dauntless, I went to see the RFA ship—I can remember everything else except the name of the RFA ship,” Coaker said, prompting a humorous correction from Lord West of Spithead. “RFA Tidespring,” he clarified.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary status. pic.twitter.com/HuC28J9Euk
— Britsky (@TBrit90) July 8, 2025
Coaker continued: “The serious point is this. As well as seeing the carrier and the Dauntless, I specifically went to see the RFA ship to ensure that I spoke to those people and discussed with them the importance of what they were doing and to see if they had any particular issues. That will inform the discussions that we have in the MoD.”
The RFA provides vital support to Royal Navy operations, including at-sea replenishment and logistics, often in forward-deployed roles that involve long periods away from home ports. However, it remains a civilian-manned fleet, governed by different employment terms than the regular armed forces.
The question of fairness and sustainability in RFA working conditions has grown more urgent in recent years as the fleet’s role expands, particularly amid growing global demands and persistent defence recruitment and retention challenges.
Peers have regularly raised concerns about the length of RFA deployments and the limited shore leave opportunities available to its crews. Critics argue that the existing model is not sustainable if the UK is to maintain a forward presence and project naval power globally.
The minister’s remarks suggest the MoD may consider updates to contracts and deployment schedules, although no formal policy change has yet been announced. Further discussions are expected as the department prepares its Defence Investment Plan and implements recommendations from the Strategic Defence Review.
The exchange comes amid broader questions about retention across the armed forces, with recent data showing some improvements in inflow but ongoing structural challenges in matching personnel to operational demand.
Make them part of the RN. Assess what salary scale they should be on with index linking. Job done.
Agree. Is there any real reasons why they should not be incorporated into the RN? They work on what are basically armed Merchantmen and even when not with RN ships at sea they often operate on their own particularly in the Caribbean carrying out same duties as the OPV’s
No reason at all. It would need primary legislation obviously – but that should be relatively straight forward.
To be fair they probably don’t want to be part of the RN
There will be views on both sides of that fence, many RFA people used to be in the Royal Navy and perhaps don’t want to go back to that. Guess it depends what it would be like, what changes come with that or is it just branding.
Not so simple, the RN was formed by Royal Prerogitive, one of the reasons that the men and woment of the RN/RM officers do not take the oath of alliegance. So when someone says it is the Kings or Queens ships or Navy, it is. The RFA was formed in 1905 by Parliament. However the RN has had a replenishment fleet for centuries, for example from the period 1708-1819 it was the Victualling Board, later the Transport Board for supplies such as food, spars etc whilst the Ordnance Board was responsable for the supply of guns, ball and powder to the fleet all over the world. So the RFA is just a continuation of the earlier Boards.
I am not sure but someone will confirm but the RFA do not take any oath of alliegance.
Just a side not the Laws authorising Impressment for the RN have never been repealed.
Ron Parliament is sovereign.
A lot happens under our constitution via royal prerogative and to be fair its probably unwise to mess with that. However whilst this would have the RN assume new powers by effectively giving them control of the RFA you are not really doing much else. Primary legislation would require the approval of both Parliament and the Monarch so I really don’t see the issue.
Sure there would be a large fee for the constitutional lawyers but then that’s normal. We have an unwritten constitution in this country which allows it to evolve.
You are totally wrong. If you wish the RN to run auxiliaries you will double the crew requirements and not be able to put then in places merchant ships can go. In 2010, 2012 and 2016 cost comparisions for just the LSDA made the whole idea unsustainable.
Mike the current arrangement is unsustainable that’s why we are talking about it.
This organisation is essential to the defence of the country therefore we need to ensure everyone is paid properly. I take your point about putting them in places merchant ships go however we have to resolve this problem some way. Something needs to change.
It is not very useful you suggesting I am totally wrong. Parliament can do anything it pleases and with speed however it is best for everyone that we find the right solution.
If a full pay review with index linking solves the issue the staff should be pushing for it. Nobody really cares if it’s inside or outside the RN.
Mark, Having spent almost 44 yrs at sea in both the RN as a submariner watch leader and then 30 years in the RFA I know what the short comings are. The RN can’t do the job of the RFA as they do not have the skill sets. It would like someone asking me to be an aviator. The RFA needs to be given the resources to recruit, have sufficient investment to keep ship ready to operate and build for the future. It does not need constant concern about having to defend take over or lack of foresight in a future navy. We are 120 years old on 3August and have been in every war and campaign since doing a job that most people don’t even know exists. Let the RN do the war fight we will do the supply.
Hi Mike, I am clearly on the wrong track here. My understanding was that the concern was over pay and that a lack of decent pay was causing the staffing shortages. I would be highly surprised if (bearing in mind the number of vacancies there are) there were insufficient funds to recruit. It might however be that the salaries were not high enough to entice people to join.
Are you of the opinion that salaries are not the issue?
Clearly the only benefit, for the Government, of moving the RFA to the RN would be to effectively give you all a pay rise without further setting off an inflationary trend in the public sector. If there is a full and happy staff this is clearly not an issue.
Obviously the points about ships is a different but relevant issue.
Improving RFA terms to at-least match civilian terms is vital. With inevitable pressure on uniformed personnel numbers we should be looking to expand the RFA not shrink it.
I can see them giving up the amphibious role but gaining the MCM and hydrographic work as well as maybe the some of the towed array work in the North Atlantic bastion.
Using a noisy RFA tanker to tow a sonar array? Where did you dream up that idiotic suggestion?
Sorry David I suggest you read up on the Atlantic bastion proposal, phase 1 will may have towed arrays deployed by commercial providers and it won’t be from tankers.
You may also be aware that the USA has several of its stalwart class towed array ships operated by the USNS.
The RFA are now operating Proteous and Stirling castle both of which will be performing hydrographic work so providing towed array with a similar set up is very much on the cards.
Let me know if you need any further info.
I never thought in all my days that this countries governing bodies over the years would allow the fleet to get to this state.
It’s criminal and the individuals responsible should be held to account.
I’m afraid Mark that the individuals responsible are the British public which includes us.
People see fast jets, carriers & T45s on the news & documentaries and assume the military is getting what it needs.
Where do they get these people from ?
‘I specifically went to see the RFA ship” & “to see if they had any particular issues”
The headline should be “Minister goes to Singapore to find out why Plymouth, Falmouth and Birkenhead are full of ships without crews ?”
Gosh how original, talk to people well that’s brave ! So you’ve flown halfway round the world and your a Defence minister, why else did you go ? Changi is an amazing Airport but OMG it’s expensive. 🤬
Don’t you know where a phone is ? If not find one when you get home, get a list of recent leavers and just ask them (Its called an exit interview) and any half decent people manager will tell you that it can be full of gold dust information, people may be blunt but they will tell you the unvarnished truth.
And then give the head of the US CLF and compare notes, you may get a shock when you find out how much they have to pay !
Irony is Singapore is one of the most expensive City’s on Earth, what’s more it’s got a thriving shipping industry and people trying to poach your crews.
Does anyone know if exit interviews are done in the RFA ?
No there not. No one gives a toss.
People left after 17+ yrs service and not even thankyou
If anyone wants a laugh just do this :-
1. Access a search engine of your choice.
2. Type in “US CLF manning issues”. Hit enter
It should show you a 5 point list of issues / impact and the conclusion as to actions needed.
Word for word it applies to the U.K. RFA issues, oh and they have a target of getting it fixed by September this year.
How do you claim expenses and get foreign jollies by downloading and actioning the content of a PDF? At least a years’ worth of study needed, even if the US has done 99% of the work already.
These are not new problems for the RFA, been coming for at least 16 years due to head in the sand politicians, civil servants and perhaps Royal Navy officers who should have valued the RFA more considering they were doing 67% of surface fleet tasking.
This allowed warships to practice being warships and the RFA could support globally as force multipiers and wave the flag for the Foreign Office as soft power.
The troubles of US MSC do seem to be very similar. US pay well, but treat people poorly in terms of leave. At least they value veteran’s who have served in US and have woken up to doing something.
This RFA Commodore is a decent guy, handed the same poor cards to play with one hand tied behind his back, but he wants to improve things.
Industrial action will come around again if concerns are not taken seriously, the vote last year to accept was a hope for good faith, to see improvements following quickly. Don’t mess them about again, it will signal no honest intention to meet the recruitment and retention issues.
Believe the exit interviews were dropped, clearly a warning sign to any organisation or employee that they don’t care about the people. When the then head of the RFA tells you to your face “if you don’tlike it, you know where the door is”, don’t be shocked that people did not feel valued or supported by management, of whatever type and leave to better opportunities or earlier than planned retirement, making the issues worse.
Our allies and enemies know the capabilities of the RFA, shame our own country doesn’t.
Smooth sailing to all aboard.
Couldn’t agree more
And again late with pay discussions this year and all we got was…
Nothing in the pipeline at the moment…
STRIKE ACTION is needed again!!
If you want to simulate the experience of rebuilding a massive fleet so you know what challenges our government is facing:
* Buy Hearts of Iron II: Darkest Hour.
* Choose a minor nation, preferably one with enemies and high dissent.
* Look at the Naval Forces section of the production screen and curse at the time involved.
* Disband several ships you already have because they’ve been there a while; preferably scrap something useful, claiming cheaper ships can do the same job.
* Give away some of your resources to foreign powers, preferably ones whose society is totally incompatible with yours.
* Go AFK while the game cyles through 2 years.
* Come back, grudgingly set it to build some of the cheapest ships.
* Go AFK until you’re at war.
* Tell yourself it’s ok, you can order more ships now and your new fleet will be ready in 6 years.
* Offer territory to your main enemy, ensuring you also give them enough money and supplies for the privilege.
In regards to RFA becoming integrated totally into the RN, it was always my understanding that with them being classed as “merchant” ships, it made it easier for them to enter “neutral” ports etc, which are sometimes not willing to accept “military” vessels. Similarly, I think quite a few ex RN, wanted to continue going to sea, but under less “disciplinary” styles of command.
Happy to be put right if my understanding is wrong.
Your comments are correct.
The RFA is a professional seagoing organisation with RN and MN adquals/certification in all sea going disciplines and logistics at sea ensuring the RN remains a blue water navy. They are Merchant Mariners although many now are direct entrants to what is a bespoke and small organisation able to pick from the commercial sector and ex-forces. This is something that being in the RN could not be achieved with ease. What is desperately needed however, is the RFA be recognised as to what they do well and be paid fairly and have the same work/life balance as many of the commercial companies that attract RFA personnel to leave, whether that be the Cruise industry, ferries or offshore. What is not needed is to be called civil servants and be driven by process and policies that are not aligned with the merchant navy code of conduct or working routines at sea and certainty not their work practises. The RFA need to be Crown Servants and allowed to run the small organisation without civil servant/RN interference. They also need to take charge of their own destiny rather than being told they need to change every few years because of internal navy or MOD infighting. Recruit and manage their own staff, source their own vessels to meet the defence requirement, follow MCA and class certification and not rely on double certification through the MOD. These are only a few ideas but it would simplify many of the present issue. Finally, deploy ships around the world to demonstrate that a life at sea is a fabulous career and one worth taking forward.
Stirling Castle is no longer an RFA ship it has been transfered to the Royal Navy