The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that design work is already underway on new floating dry docks for the Royal Navy under Programme Euston, with a manufacturing contract to follow once technical specifications are finalised and a procurement process completed, the UK Defence Journal understands.
In a series of written parliamentary answers published on 5 January, Defence Minister Lord Coaker set out the current status of the programme, which is intended to deliver additional floating docking capacity to support submarine maintenance at HM Naval Base Clyde. Responding to questions from Labour peer Lord Beamish, Coaker said the department “intends to place a contract for the manufacture of the floating docks following production of the technical specification and upon completion of a procurement process.”
While Programme Euston does not formally sit within the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the government has confirmed that the wider UK shipbuilding sector is expected to be involved. According to the minister, “the analogous shipbuilding sector is well placed to participate in an upcoming procurement for the floating docks,” and the National Shipbuilding Office has been consulted ahead of the programme’s next investment decision point.
The answers also indicate that no assessment has yet been finalised on potential UK job creation linked to the project. Lord Coaker noted that “until the outcome of that next investment decision point is known, it is too early to provide information on job creation.” This suggests that industrial impact will be clarified only once the procurement approach and build strategy are agreed.
Programme Euston is intended to address long-standing constraints in out-of-water maintenance capacity for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet, particularly as demand increases with the continued operation of the Vanguard and Astute classes and the future arrival of Dreadnought. The floating docks are expected to be a critical enabler for submarine availability and continuous at-sea deterrence.
No timeline has yet been given for contract award, but the confirmation that design activity is progressing marks a further step towards delivery of the long-planned capability.
These are badly needed hope the program goes ahead speedily.
I hope these see the light of day as we will be needing them shortly.
The capacity they create is essential. Whilst they can be used for regular maintenance they free up space in Faslane and Devonport. Additionally they can be positioned at convenient locations with reasonable levels of shelter and access to industry.
There are many additional benefits.
Hope they put decent lifts and escalators in them. I have many memories of having to schlep up and down scaffolding steps when the escalators and lifts broke down during several S and T boat builds at Barrow. Half hour round trip back to the bilges onboard, lol
Finally something not dependent on the DIP? This needs to be done ASAP and we will need more sub infrastructure if the pledge for 12 SSN-AUKUS is serious.
“the department “intends to place a contract for the manufacture of the floating docks following production of the technical specification and upon completion of a procurement process.””
Intends! More excuses for why it won’t happen soon.
So it’s resurfaced. It had all gone quiet.
Was that a submarine pun?
Lol.
I am a complete ignoramus on this submarine maintenance issue and seek guidance. I had imagined some sort of fairly simple floating pontoon for the purpose of access.for the maintenance crew. But reading Craig’s comment above about needing lifts and escalators puzzles. We are not talking about dry docks, not sure why we would need lists and escalators?
This floating dock thing sounds a rathet bigger thing than a a layman like me can envisage. Is it going to be a horribly expensive exercise, what’s all involved? And why has it not been actioned years back, as the need seems pretty obvious?
Well it hasn’t been actioned because of cost.
We have a huge shortage of Nuke rated drydocks with only one dock available for 6 astute class subs. Not all of them require full drydocking all the time but other than the shiplift there is no intermediate maintenance facilities available.
Hence the plan for floating drydocks. Cheaper than modifying or digging a new dock on land for them.
The government promised £20m for upgrades to Inchgreen. Surface vessels only?
Would need a lot more for submarine work
Thought so. Good to have a basic facility available that might have a future use that has already been dug and is close to established facilities on the Clyde.
It would need an awful lot for nuclear related work for certification – the next door glowing estate is a rather large issue.
I find it bonkers that even the broad thought process of what Inchgreen is being reserved for isn’t being shared.
I can’t see it for project Euston as it would be better done at the various H&W locations. There are no plated curves to form as they are static barges.
I don’t see it being particularly useful for build as there are no facilities or workforce.
Quite a head scratcher what the intention is for the place.
That’s because we closed down Chatham Dockyard with5 dry docks and for we’re constantly in use in the submarine facility, and guess what they are still there ??
Those are in no way suitable for modern submarine work or will be allowed under regulations
Hey Cripes, imagine the complexity involved with taking a 7000-8000 ton warship complete with a nuclear reactor out of the water for weeks or months at at time. That’s the level of challenge involved in a project like this should hopefully explain why something far more complex than a floating pontoon is required. This complexity is the reason we currently only have very limited dry docking facilities or the single ship lift facility for this scale of work.
Yes it 100% should have been addressed decades ago but previous governments have failed to address such infrastructure issues.
The ever excellent Navy Lookout has a piece on this….worth a read…😊
Modern submarines are huge, the height of tower blocks,Google HMS Vanguard,the Dreadnought class will be even bigger.
Wow. we have another update on a plan. No timescale of course! I despair.
Thanks v much for insights chaps, I understand the scale of the thing now. It looks like a nice big construction contract for some yard. Is this something that a commercial yard like A&P could build, as the four main yards are all pretty busy with existing orders?