The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the Strategic Sealift – Future (SSL-F) programme, outlining its vision for a modernised and expanded strategic sealift capability.
The initiative will replace the existing Strategic Sealift – Interim (SSL-I) capability with a versatile fleet designed to meet the UK’s future defence needs and enhance resilience in global operations.
The UK’s current strategic sealift capability is provided by Foreland Shipping Limited, which operates four Point-class Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) vessels chartered by the MOD. Initially, six Point-class vessels were built in 2002 to meet defence requirements. However, two vessels were released from the arrangement in 2011, leaving the MOD with four vessels under contract.
The RFI confirms that the MOD intends to restore the fleet to six vessels for the SSL-F programme, increasing capacity to meet both routine and contingency requirements. “The Authority intends to expand its current capability’s capacity in order to provide support to contingent operations and ensure a resilience is built into the capability,” the document states.
Objectives of the SSL-F Programme
The RFI outlines several key objectives to guide the programme:
- “To determine the extent to which our high-level requirements are feasible and to identify potential technical or commercial challenges.”
- “To further understand innovative and novel solutions which may inform the solution space.”
- “To determine the appetite and capacity of the market to inform any procurement strategy and delivery approach.”
- “To determine the potential benefits and drawbacks of different solutions in meeting the project requirements.”
Key Requirements for the Future Fleet
The SSL-F programme specifies a range of requirements for the new fleet to meet operational demands well into the 2030s and beyond. Among the most notable features are:
- Capacity and Cargo Handling
The fleet must collectively provide at least 15,600 lane metres, with each vessel capable of carrying a range of cargo, including heavy military equipment, ISO containers, dangerous goods, and cold chain storage.
“The SSL-F capability shall embark, lift, and disembark heavy defence inventory within a mixed cargo comprising all IMDG codes,” the RFI explains. This includes supporting key military assets such as Challenger tanks, Ajax and Boxer armoured vehicles, and artillery systems. - To enhance operational flexibility, the vessels will feature self-supporting ramps for loading and offloading, organic cranes capable of lifting 40-foot ISO containers, and internal ballast systems for Mexeflote operations. “Ramps are the safest and most expedient means to load/offload armoured vehicles and heavy equipment,” the RFI notes.
- Global Deployability
The vessels must operate in diverse environments, ranging from Arctic to tropical conditions, and navigate restricted waterways such as the Panama and Suez Canals. “The capability must be able to operate globally and utilise the most expedient transit routes,” according to the RFI. - Enhanced Survivability and Versatility
The MOD places a strong emphasis on survivability, requiring vessels to meet Ice Class 1A standards and accommodate protection systems. “Enhanced survivability is required to mitigate against physical loss of a vessel,” the document states. The vessels must also be capable of future-proofing, with adaptability to evolving fuel technologies. - Living and Operational Facilities
Designed for extended deployments, the vessels will include living spaces, recreational facilities, and amenities for up to 12 additional personnel. “Vessels should be equipped with living spaces, gym, toilets, showers, rest, laundry, food preparation, welfare facilities, recreational and exercise areas,” the RFI specifies. - Reliability and Availability
The SSL-F fleet must be operational for 355 days per year, with a mission readiness period not exceeding 72 hours. This ensures rapid deployment capability across multiple global tasks. “The capability as a whole shall deliver no less than four concurrent global tasks throughout the year,” the RFI adds.
Indicative Timeline and Market Engagement
The MOD has provided an initial timeline for the programme, which includes:
- RFI Response Deadline: 28 February 2025
- One-to-One Engagements: March 2025
- Strategic Outline Case Completion: November 2025
The MOD acknowledges the timeline is subject to change, stating:
“This timeline is provided on a without commitment basis for indicative purposes only. The Authority will not be held to these dates and reserves the right to adapt them as is required or it deems fit.”
Supporting NATO and Global Operations
The SSL-F programme highlights the strategic importance of sealift capability in supporting the UK’s commitments to NATO and its global defence presence. The RFI underscores that the future fleet will play a critical role in transporting heavy equipment, ammunition, and sensitive freight for contingent and routine operations.
“The capability includes the movement of heavy armour and their transports, major equipment, ammunition and complex weapons, and sensitive freight, supporting the UK global presence and is critical to the UK’s contribution to NATO operations, including Article 5 commitments,” the MOD explains.
With the current Point-class vessels expected to remain in service into the early 2030s, the SSL-F programme provides a timely opportunity to establish a robust and adaptable capability for decades to come. “The current Strategic SeaLift capability will endure into the early 2030s, thus providing an opportunity to establish a long-term future sealift capability thereafter,” the MOD states.
I won’t hold my breath until it is fully funded to build all of these.
Can these just be built is South Korea on grounds of cost…if they are built in UK they will be eye watering my expensive and used to displace my needed complex warship building with tonnage…
I cannot see how they could be built in the UK, the RN and RFA is way to far behind on recapitalisation of hulls and even with the new sheds essentially the shipbuilding capacity we have is pre booked for a generation.
Agree these just need to knocked up by a friendly nation… maybe with an industrial exchange package… I’m sure we have lots of missiles that would interest Korea.
What about Ferguson 😀
I assume that these will operate on similar terms to the current Point contract. Neither RN nor RFA will buy or operate them. Instead they will be owned by a shipping company which will be required to ensure the necessary availability. Depending on the timing of FSS, Harland and Wolf, which built 2 of the Points, could be involved.
Per an FOI answer in 2014, in 2013/4, 3 of the Points were used once, 1 used three times for operations each @ 2 months in duration.
Confirms that the new arrangement will probably be similar though back up to the original 6 vessels.
I agree, let’s wait and see what is ordered, what is commissioned and what is still in service a couple, or so, SDRS after that!
However logical building in a ship-building mecca like S. Korea is. If the UK is serious about re-building the RN; then ship building in the UK is the only way to get economies of scale where units become cheaper with time (and orders); not to mention, the capability to build even these ‘non-complex ‘ (relatively) ships in a time of war, could be further developed to suit more complex military requirements (e.g. warships)… But yes, given the stagnant defence mind that resides in the UK, sure, build in S. Korea, they are very good at it.
Personally I would like to see these go the the RFA and actually get the RFA back to the job it’s ment to do… deliver stuff.. give the MRSS/littoral strike vessels to the RN and build the RFA back to
3 fast sustainment vessels for supporting carrier opps
6 fleet tankers
6 logistic/strategic sea lift vessels
Stop then doing the amphibious warfare and mine warfare work, patrol etc which is not the job of auxiliaries.
Navy doesn’t have enough personnel, neither does RFA obviously, but RFA ships can be staffed with a lot less people
The ships will not be built for years, plenty of time to get the crews sorted.
You’re assuming it can be fixed, they’re not getting any increase in personnel from the sounds of the SDR. And that’s part of way 1 of the LPDs was laid up in 2010 anyway so hardly gonna run 6 amphibs
The spreadsheets will have shown that it is cheaper to keep 6 sealift ships available on retainers, rather than 4 ships and then leasing additional commercial capacity, often at short notice at peak rates. The ships have also become a nice little earner for the MoD and Foreland Shipping as other European NATO countries (France, Germany, …) now regularly avail of them for a fee as a trusted, secure and high-quality transportation service for military equipment. Indeed, that is almost certainly why the requirement is again for six ships.
4 of the 6 Point’s were built in Germany. South Korea must be the hot favourite for any replacements ordered via a PFI type contract nearly 30 years later. There is very unlikely to be any requirement to build some or all of the ships in the UK as that will at least double their cost.