It has emerged that the majority of steel used in the new patrol vessels being built on the Clyde is Swedish in origin.

The issue was brought to light by Lord Hoyle during a session of the House of Lords.

“However, it is not only on the replacement for the Trident submarine that foreign steel is being used but on the Royal Navy patrol vessels, for which 60% of the steel comes from Sweden.”

The Offshore Patrol Vessels had been ordered to fill a gap in orders after the second carrier and before the Type 26 frigates started construction.

Two vessels, in addition to the previously ordered three, were announced as part of the last Strategic Defence & Security Review.

The first of the five new vessels, HMS Forth, is expected to be handed over to the Royal Navy in 2017.

The Strategic Defence & Security Review states:

“We will buy two further new Offshore Patrol Vessels, increasing the Royal Navy’s ability to defend UK interests at home and abroad.”

The vessels will be used by the Royal Navy to undertake various tasks including border protection roles, including anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fisheries patrols, and immigration law enforcement. 

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Dave B Philips
Dave B Philips
7 years ago

To me this further cements the case for building hulls where they can be built cheaper and then refit with electronics and armaments here in the UK. We’d save enough cash to build a fleet worthy of a carrier group…

David
David
7 years ago
Reply to  Dave B Philips

Absolutely Dave – I agree wholeheartedly!!

Chish
Chish
7 years ago
Reply to  Dave B Philips

Sorry Dave but because there is complacency and incompetence (as shown by the Parker report) and some numpty in the MoD / BAE cabal fails to see the political stupidity of buying foreign steel when we are trying to rebuild our UK industry that doesn’t mean we should export even more jobs abroad. And Korea may be cheap but you gets what pays for and it isn’t doing a really great job on the Tide Class tankers. Late and not working. 92% of the steel used in the carriers was British. They were built by yards all over the UK… Read more »

Dave B Philips
Dave B Philips
7 years ago
Reply to  Chish

We are and have been doing that since the first tree was cut for the first boats in the Royal Navy. Its not that we need to build our industry for skilled and productive workers, that is already here. Britain could build the best warships in the world, But there has to be a compromise. We can’t go from spending 5% of GDP on defence just a few decades ago to 2ish% and manage to continue onward’s without a significant and dangerous loss of defence capabilities. There are many solutions Chish and of course your suggestion that we exploit our… Read more »

Bobby greig
Bobby greig
7 years ago
Reply to  Dave B Philips

I’d love to know how you’d install all the equipment if the hulls are built elsewhere, do you think you just open it up with a big can opener and drop it in,the kit needs to be installed during build, and another thing, most of the price of a ship is the radar and armaments that are fitted not the hull build, British ships are extremely well made and very complex, it’s not easy by any means to build these ships as lightweight as they are, they are built for speed

Gerard
Gerard
7 years ago
Reply to  Dave B Philips

If we are willing to build 100 escorts and 50 subs abroad and get as much skilled work-share as possible it may work out. The reality is if we just build current number abroad we have also lost the ability to replace loses if/when things get shooty. Any “savings” are just getting spent (and then some) opening up new Job Centers.

$500m abroad is $500m abroad, $750m at home should actually keep $500m and skills at home ($756m-ish if NSS report is correct) those skills should be considered as part of defence capabilities as should ample weapons stocks.

Dave Fields
Dave Fields
7 years ago

The whole purpose of making, building and buying in Britain is to put people back into jobs, not only for the manufacturers but also the small businesses that support the workers and community. We have the resources, labour and know how why should we tender it out to a foreign market? The wages earned will at some point be returned back into our system to improve our economy

Your thoughts?

Stuart Broome
Stuart Broome
7 years ago

if we want skills, knowledge and wealth shared to all in the UK then there is still a place for steel manufacture and high end shipbuilding in this country. I voted out for many reasons but if the Government cannot spend our money where we reasonably can on equipment for defence at home then the UK is finished. What is left to sell off? We need our politicians to catch up with the majority in the UK and start protecting our long term national interest and not bloated PLC’s like BAE. The recent report just sheds light on something that… Read more »

Steve
Steve
7 years ago

I was wondering whether there could be some feasibility to transfer the river class, either batch, to the border agency. If you look at their primary role, it seems to me that it is mainly policing roles within UK borders. It might free up some capital to invest in something more useful for foreign operations.

Secundius
7 years ago

Steel Quality! Swedish Steel is either Chromium-Steel or Titanium-Steel Alloys. Near Medical Grade and Non-Magnetic with Saltwater Corrosion Resistant. Germany in WW2 bought their Iron Ore from Sweden because of High Chromium rating…

Flydlbee
Flydlbee
7 years ago

Do we send our sailors to sea in ships made of the best steel, at the best price, or in ships made of political convenience?