UK orders reconfigurable workboats
Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK) has received a £48 million contract to supply and support replacement workboats for the UK Ministry of Defence, the company announced on 9 August.
The six year contract will see AEUK supply up to 38 workboats and provide in-service support from 2018 until 2024.
Ranging in size from 11 to 18m, the modular, multi-role Sea class vessels share common components. The vessels feature fully equipped capability modules to enable rapid reconfiguration for a range of specialised operational roles, including dive support, explosive ordnance disposal, officer training, passenger transport, arctic exploration, hydrographic survey and logistic re-supply.
The boats have a baseline workboat configuration with twin diesels, jet drive propulsion, modern navigation and communications fit.
The workboats will be operated from the UK naval bases, and will also be deployed from the Royal Navy Multi-Role Survey and Oceanographic ships, aircraft carriers and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule
The Royal Australian Navy has finally commissioned the first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel – more than three years behind schedule – highlighting the programme’s delays, design compromises and ongoing industrial restructuring.
-
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.
-
US Navy foresees additional delays in the Columbia-class programme
After estimating that the first Columbia-class submarine would be delivered 16 months late, the US Navy has recently confirmed that an additional month will be required to complete its construction.