The Ministry of Defence is assessing whether further repair of HMS Protector is worth the cost, and her continued service depends on investment across a range of systems, according to Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, in answers given in Parliament.
Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative MP for Huntingdon, asked for the most recent estimate of the ice patrol ship’s remaining economic life.
Pollard said: “As part of Project Shackleton, the Ministry of Defence is assessing the options for HMS Protector, including the costs and operational benefits of further repair and employment.” Asked separately what steps are being taken to ensure the vessel’s viability, he said:
“We inherited plans to continue operating HMS Protector with no plan to replace her. We felt this was unsustainable so the Defence Investment Plan sets out our intention to replace HMS Protector with a more modern vessel variant. Work is ongoing, under Project Shakleton, to determine the exact timing and approach which will be taken to meet this intent.
“HMS Protector’s maintenance and engineering arrangements are designed to support the viability of the vessel. Continued service is dependent on investment across a range of systems to maintain operational capability and compliance with relevant standards.”
The ship will miss a second Antarctic season this austral summer.
Another defence capability gap incoming
A RN variant of RFS Richard Attenborough would do the job. Cost…circa £200 million.
Pollard blah blah blah “we inherited” blah blah blah “Dip” bah blah blah……
strange how she went into refit and then the engines are then found to be faulty after the refit
By the time they think about it it will be time for her to be scrapped….probably without replacement.