MoD: Full steam ahead for Royal Fleet Auxiliary shipbuilding project aimed at bolstering HMS Prince of Wales

Labour politicians remain confident that the project to build three new Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) will go ahead as planned. This is despite one of the companies tasked with the construction work, Harland and Wolff (H&W), going into administration last month.

Admiral Lord West of Spithead, former First Sea Lord, asked the government in parliamentary written question what progress has been made in building the three FSS ships. Lord Vernon Coaker, Labour, responded: “The Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship project is currently in the design phase, with design work on schedule, and its successful delivery remains a priority.

“Production of the first FSS ship is expected to begin in 2025 and to enter service by 2031, after first of class trials and equipment fits. All three ships are expected to be in service by 2032, following equipment fits and military trials.

“Following a review of Harland and Wolff’s financial situation, the Government is clear that the market is best placed to address the challenges the company is facing. We continue to work extensively with all parties to find an outcome for the company that continues to deliver shipbuilding and manufacturing in the UK.”

What is the Fleet Solid Support ship programme?

According to the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) arm, the vessels are designed to deliver crucial munitions, supplies and provisions to Royal Navy ships while at sea. They can also provide logistical and operational support in counter-piracy and counter-terrorism missions. With RFA vessels being asked to be forward deployed into conflict zones - including RFA Cardigan Bay being used to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza - bolstering the fleet has become more important. Robin Boulby, FSS Team Leader, said the project is vital to getting the most out of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth.

He added: “Fleet Solid Support is an exciting transformational project, delivering high availability ships that unlock the capability of the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers whilst enhancing UK shipbuilding capability and reducing the impact of both the enterprise and platform operation on the environment.”

Each vessel can house a crew of 101 RFA sailors, as well as an additional 80 personnel operating helicopters, boats and performing other roles. A £1.6bn contract was awarded to Team Resolute in 2023 - a consortium consisting of H&W, BMT and Navantia UK. Construction work is due to take place in the UK and Spain, with the government previously investing £77m into shipbuilding infrastructure at the H&W yards.

Concerns and government confidence

The importance of the project has come into focus after RFA Fort Victoria, the UK’s only current Solid Support ship, was blocked from joining HMS Prince of Wales and the UK Carrier Strike Group on Exercise Strike Warrior due to a lack of sailors. This led to the Norwegian vessel HNoMS Maud carrying out a replenishment at sea exercise with the 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier before the exercise began.

Criticism was raised in The Daily Telegraph about relying on foreign ships to carry out such tasks. RFA Tidespring would later carry out similar operations with HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Iron Duke, but the concerns around the RFA remain the same.

Officers belonging to unions are currently in a long-running pay dispute with the MoD and RFA after a 4.5 per cent income boost was implemented. Unions members say they have seen their salaries fall by roughly 36 per cent in real terms over the past decade. Staff shortages and personnel reportedly being “harassed” into returning to work early for deployments have led to staff staging demonstrations in Portsmouth and across the country. H&W’s current financial situation also remains a concern for the project.

The famous shipbuilder went into administration on September 27 for the second time in the last five years. The Belfast-based company has four shipyards, one in Northern Ireland, two in Scotland and one in Appledore in north Devon. It had applied for a £200m loan guarantee from the government as part of efforts to restructure its finances, after running into cash flow issues. the Government decided in August not to act as a guarantor on the lending – while also ruling out direct funding to maintain the company’s liquidity. Given the company’s current position, Graeme Downie, Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, asked where the new ships will be built and assembled.

Luke Pollard, Labour Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the MoD, responded: “Successful delivery of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) Ships project remains a priority. On current plans, the three FSS ships will be assembled from blocks which are expected to be built in Harland & Wolff (H&W) shipyards in Belfast and Appledore in Devon and Navantia's shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. Assembly and integration of the ships is planned to take place in Belfast.”

Mark Francois, Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, asked Mr Pollard in a written question what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the future of the H&W shipyard and the shipbuilding project.

Mr Pollard responded: “Ministry of Defence Ministers and officials have regular meetings with counterparts in other Government Departments, including with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on a range of matters, including the future of Harland & Wolff's shipyards. There is extensive engagement with Navantia UK as the Prime Contractor to understand what steps the company is taking to ensure delivery of the FSS contract and management of its supply chain.”