HMS Scott, the largest ocean survey vessel in Western Europe, will remain in Royal Navy service until 2033 following a comprehensive Life Extension Programme (SLEP).
This announcement comes as a surprise given that the ship was listed for sale by the UK Defence Equipment Sales Authority in March 2023, with the Navy confirming significant interest at the time.
Instead of being sold, HMS Scott will undergo an extensive overhaul at the A&P Falmouth facility in Southwest England, managed by APCL Group. The programme aims to rejuvenate the vessel and ensure her operational readiness for the next decade.
The upgrades planned as part of the SLEP include a docking period in No. 3 Dock, a full hull blast and recoat, and the replacement of several onboard systems. Enhancements will include new water management systems, sewage treatment plants, thermal oil boilers, and LED lighting installations. Additionally, four Cummins generators will be removed and overhauled, internal doors will be replaced, and lifeboat davits will be upgraded.
HMS Scott’s Commanding Officer, Samuel Nightingale, emphasised the vessel’s importance to both the Royal Navy and NATO, stating, “HMS Scott, and the capability she offers, is not only unique in the Royal Navy but also across the whole of NATO. Over the course of her service life so far, she has probably surveyed a greater area of seabed than any other vessel in history.” Reflecting on the ship’s future, he added, “Following the Life Extension Programme at A&P Falmouth, I look forward to returning to the fleet with a rejuvenated ship brimming with all the latest capabilities.”
The project will also improve living and working conditions for the crew. Tim Henshaw, DE&S RFA Group Technical Superintendent, explained, “The Life Extension will include the overhaul and service of all major parts of the ship’s propulsion systems, ship’s services, and mission systems. The time in port also allows for improvements in the ship’s crew living and working areas, with the upgrade of the galley and improvements in accommodation areas.”
APCL Group, which has supported major shipbuilding projects for the Royal Navy, expressed pride in its role. Matt Weetch, Director of Defence at APCL, stated, “APCL is proud to be supporting HMS Scott in her life extension package, ensuring this vital platform can continue to support the Royal Navy well into the next decade.”
Mike Spicer, Managing Director of A&P Falmouth, highlighted the collaboration involved in the project. “HMS Scott is no stranger to Falmouth, and we are looking forward to working with her ship’s company, sub-contractors, and partners in DE&S to ensure this vital capability is ready and available for her future taskings,” he said. He also noted that the project would provide valuable training opportunities for apprentices at the shipyard.
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Good. Might get scrapped in the SDR
… or might get converted into something useful … warfighting is evolving so I hear.
Wdym something useful, this is an extremely useful vessel, surveillance and information is just as key as combat ability
A scrapped ship is not much use to anyone. I was thinking that we need ships for a variety of purposes. Use it fore something useful.
It is doing something useful. Slapping combat systems on it is a terrible idea.
Well said.
The surveying of the Normandy beaches proved quite useful in the D-Day landings.
Whilst not a particularly ‘sexy’ announcement in warfighting terms, this is probably the most important decision the MOD have made in several years.
What this ship provides to the fleet in terms of data wrt water conditions is absolutely immense. ASW both below, on the sea and in the air just doesn’t happen without this information.
Credit where credit is due for a change, someone had some sense to stop the sale. Whatever the cost of the SLEP it’s worth it many times over.
While I agree with retaining the ship and its capability, at what cost will it come? There isn’t any more money, and there are a thousand other capabilities crying out for funding.
There is always more money …. and providing you spend it wisely there will probably be even more money.
Without it our ASW capabilities will suffer and decline, it’s probably more important as a whole than fitting NSM on our warships. Tough choices indeed, but the Navy needs this more than it needs NSM.
Presumably the plan is that the Proteus MROS takes over from Scott in the early 30s? As Proteus is, as far as we know, being configured for an undersea cable and pipeline inspection role and I assume will therefore deploy mainly in the southern North Sea and South-Wesr approaches, will it be able to take over Scott”s deep sea role of providing data for our submarines and ASW ships?
Or are we likely to lose the latter capability? We have already lost the Echos, so will have no deep sea survey assets, other than Protector in the south Atlantic.it will be a backward step if we lose Scott’s capabilities. But at least they are assured for the immediate future.
Proteus has a different role than Scott, whilst she may be able to conduct some of Scott’s functions, not sure if her capabilities are upto it.
Believe the plan is for one of the three MROSS ships that the MOD are alluding to build is going to be a direct replacement for Scott. We will see.
I have worked on the USNS equivalent to Scott, the Bruce Heezen around 5 years ago. It does similar roles but uses a different sonar system for mapping.( it has a VDS gondola)
It does, like Scott, a lot of oceanographic stuff and is fitted to take a lot of modular systems.
It was using autonomous gliders to do survey and oceanographic work. They could do the salinity, surface/deep temperature measurements and water column data gathering 24/7 for weeks at a time whilst away from the vessel.
No reason to think that similar systems are not already in use by the droggies and will be used in the future by a replacement vessel. Droggie stuff screams out bolt on modular autonomous systems as the way ahead.
Agreed.
Still so many ignore the value of the enablers that make the woosh bang possible.
Without said enablers the woosh bang doesn’t really exist.
110%
Its seabed mapping capabilities as well as its “mundane” oceanographic capabilities cannot be provided by any other vessel.
In addition, the ability to do the equivalent of Route Surveys on underwater infrastructure helps in generating before and after pictures of area. From those you can see if anything has magically appeared when Yantar has been in the area. You should also be able to see any tracks on the seabed if a crawler has been used.
Really good news, maybe that modest budget uplift gave a bit of head room.
Very good news. An excellent vessel and capability.
Not all major defence assets need to be able to go “bang”.
Like the old adage “the army marches on its stomach”, it is vital that this type of capability is maintained and continues to provide comprehensive information to allow those with the “punch in their fist”, to not only be able to continue boxing, but get to the right part of the ring, knowing what it will be like once they get there.
I agree with your comments. I served on this ship when she was stationed in the Indian Ocean. The work she did made money for the MOD. It’s nice to see one of my ships still going. Best ship I served on
oh…don’t get your hopes up, folks. This will follow the classic MOD model of receiving the life extension programme [costs ever creeping upwards as they discover new, unanticipated issues in the ‘upgrade’] and then on completion [after considerable delay] within days of returning to the fleet and only then, some new minister arriving through the revolving door will decide the ship can be scrapped as part of a new efficiency drive …
Sisyphus, I think A&P Falmouth have a pretty good record in regard to upgrades etc, so expect it to be completed pretty much on schedule with no or little price increases.
Happy to stand you a pint if I am wrong.
🙂 To be clear. I’m not doubting A&P Falmouth and welcome their involvement, indeed, the sensible decision to extend the life of HMS Scott. However, I have absolutely zero faith in the bean counters and the revolving doors of our political class.
Roger that
Great news 4 my namesakes reprieve.
Good news its a valuable not easily replaced asset.
What is the outcome regarding new RFA ships they are just as important as war and surveillance ships.
Spot on 👍